“I did,” Kaazz said excitedly.

  Ush beamed, practically bouncing. She waved her hand like an eager child. “I did too! Did you level as well, Cromus?”

  “I di—” Cromus started to answer, but something shimmered into existence between them. A bright red shell, shaped like a pointed mushroom cap, popped into the air right in the center of the group. Instinctively, Cromus slapped it aside, sending it spinning into a coral outcropping with a hollow thunk.

  “HEY!” a sharp voice barked from where the shell landed.

  Two stalked eyes lowered from beneath the shell, then rose again to glare at them. A squat figure unfolded from beneath it, limbs extending in exaggerated, puppet-like motions as it hovered into view. Barely three feet tall and vaguely humanoid, it looked like a child’s cartoon drawing—stubby legs, oversized palms, and a lower jaw that ended in a clicking crab’s mouth. Its entire body bobbed slightly, like a buoy drifting on the tide.

  “Is that the way you greet the Keeper of this dungeon?” it asked, voice high and cheerful—yet lined with a brittle offense that twisted the air around them.

  “A Keeper?” Cromus echoed, frowning.

  The Keeper’s eyes flicked over him. Then to Kaazz. Then Ush. His expression didn’t change—still that overly pleasant smile—but something behind his gaze shifted. An appraisal. A quiet judgment.

  “Ahh,” he said after a moment, clasping his small hands behind his back. “This must be your first dungeon.”

  He floated closer, tilting his head as if studying Cromus under a lens. “Tell me—who blessed you, big one?” His tone was curious, casual. But there was a subtle edge beneath the words—like a merchant pretending to chat while weighing your coin purse.

  Cromus hesitated. “Is that… a normal question?”

  The Keeper chuckled lightly, like a noble humoring a farmer. “Oh, it could be seen as rude. But you see… I find it endlessly fascinating to meet those who've received blessings from higher stations.” His eyes scanned the group again. “You three don’t strike me as the usual sort who get chosen. No offense, of course.”

  “None taken,” Ush said with a smile, seemingly oblivious to the insult. Her attention was fixated on the strange creature, her fascination outweighing her pride.

  But Cromus caught it. That warm, friendly tone didn’t quite reach the Keeper’s eyes.

  Then the Keeper’s gaze landed on Athas—and shifted immediately. The polite mask remained, but tension crept into the air like a chill.

  “Oh, and this must be… a companion?” he asked, gesturing toward Athas, though his hovering form subtly floated back.

  Athas’ jaw lolled, happy to be included. His golden eyes met the Keeper’s briefly, then drifted off without a care.

  The Keeper’s smile didn’t move, but his voice thinned. “An Asalisk. That’s… resourceful. Primitive, but resourceful.”

  Cromus stepped forward, kneeling to gently pet Athas. “He’s been a great boon to our group.”

  “Of course he has,” the Keeper said smoothly. “He made fine work of that mermaid to save you from a watery grave.”

  “You’re all very… unique,” he continued. His tone was honey-sweet, but the flicker behind his eyes told another story entirely. “Which is why you piqued my interest. Cromus, was it? I have a proposition for you.”

  Cromus kept his voice neutral. “Oh? What do you got?”

  “My magnificent self will grant you and your companions a rest zone,” the Keeper said with a grin. “In exchange for a peek at your information.”

  Cromus raised a brow. “Didn’t you already try using Identify when you appeared?”

  The Keeper gave a dramatic sigh, puffing out his cheeks. “Unfortunately, blessings can be… tricky. I can see your companions clearly enough, but whoever blessed you has made it difficult for others to see anything. They’re stingy like that.”

  “You don’t want to see it just to make the dungeon harder for us, do you?” Cromus asked.

  The Keeper gasped with mock offense, placing a hand over his chest. “A Keeper would never do something so distasteful! I’m insulted you’d even suggest such a thing.”

  “Sorry. As you said—first dungeon and all. I’m just looking out for my group,” Cromus said, glancing at his companions. They were clearly exhausted. “Resting would be nice… but I want a bit more.”

  The Keeper’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Oh?”

  “You can see my character sheet,” Cromus said, “but I want answers. Not about your dungeon—I get that’s off-limits—but about the system. Things I’m curious about.”

  The Keeper’s eyes lit up. He floated in closer, nose-to-nonexistent-nose with Cromus. “Wait… you’re not just blessed. You’re a Representative, aren’t you?”

  Cromus paused, unsure how to answer.

  “Oh, you don’t need to confirm it,” the Keeper said, grinning. “It’s written all over your face. You basically just did.”

  He hovered in a slow circle, tapping a clawed finger against his chin. “Hmm… if you agree to answer a few of my questions in return—keeping in mind I can’t say everything due to system restrictions—we’ve got a deal.” He extended his hand.

  Cromus didn’t hesitate.

  “Fine. But I can choose not to answer anything I don’t like,” he said quickly—grasping the Keeper’s hand before the words had fully left his mouth.

  The Keeper’s grin twitched.

  But the system had already locked in the pact.

  “Deal set,” he said stiffly, as wind rushed outward from their clasped hands, swirling around them.

  Cromus’s eyes widened at the sensation. The Keeper let out a low, grudging laugh.

  “Clever of you, slipping that last part in,” he said. “Most wouldn’t think to.”

  “I took a guess,” Cromus replied with a smirk. “Read too many books. Watched too many movies about dumbasses getting outwitted by powerful beings.”

  To Cromus’s surprise, the Keeper chuckled. “You know… I can respect that.”

  He clapped his hands.

  The world twisted.

  Reality bent.

  And when it all snapped back into place, Kaazz, Ush, and Athas were sound asleep—snoring softly in sleeping bags, each one wearing a little sleep mask. Athas lay curled on top of his like a cat, tail twitching gently in dreamless satisfaction.

  Cromus was then knocked off his feet finding himself sitting in a padded chair.

  “Now lets have a peek shall we.” The Keeper said as made a plucking motion and his eyes become focused on Cromus’s character sheet.

  Cromus watched as the eyes moved up and down taking in everything. “Is there anything in particular you are looking for?’

  One eye looked over at Cromus as the other scanned. “Not necessarily, but I will say you are more than I expected.”

  “How so?” Cromus asked.

  Both eyes focused on Cromus now. “Well, for starters the fact you are representing Gaia. She is one who doesn’t really have representatives, or needs them.”

  “Oh?” Cromus asked questioningly.

  The keeper got a look of ‘Oh Really’ “You think the goddess of the very earth you walk on, needs people to remind them she is real, or to remind them they are supposed to be thankful to her?”

  “Wait.. Are representatives supposed to be doing that?” Actually worried he forgot something.

  “Not really, though some gods require it of the reps, because some rely on followers and worshipers to maintain their hold on power. Gaia is not one of those.” The keeper said offhandedly as he started looking again. his eyes catching something and he mumbled under his breath.

  “Something caught your eye?” Cromus asked.

  The keeper smiled. “Sure did. You Cromus caught my eye, and judging from what I glimpsed at your companions you unlocked their classes did you not?”

  “Ush, yes. Kaazz no. he received it from his dying shaman.” Cromus said.

  The keepers eyes seem to look over and linger on Kaazz for a moment.

  Cromus watched for a bit then decided to bring the crab faced being’s attention back to him. “What technically is a keeper?”

  The keepers eyes floated to look at Cromus followed by the head and body turning to face him.

  “Keepers are the being who control, maintain, design, and expand the dungeon.” The keeper explained

  “So it’s heart, and soul? or like a god of a pocket dimension? Do you have a core like other living things in this system?” Cromus asked.

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  “That is a excellent assumption, and yes, think of me as the god of my own dimension.” the keeper said.

  “Are you able to leave the dungeon?” Cromus asked

  “No.”

  “Can you out right harm us?”

  The keeper stayed silent.

  Cromus stared at him uncomfortably for a long moment. the smile never fading from the Keepers face.

  “Now if I did that it wouldn’t be favorable to me.” The keeper said

  Cromus visibly relaxed letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

  “Though no one but I would know if I chose to do so.” The keeper said lower in tone but still smiling.

  Cromus not wanting to test the keeper moved on. “I am assuming that the dungeon is probably massive, but depending on the level of the group entering determines what they get to see and have access too?”

  The keepers tone instantly jumped back to its cheerful tone. “That is correct!” The keeper said his head doing an unnecessary cart well while its head never moved. “Now I think it’s my turn to ask some more, and how about we trade one question each back and forth till we are done that way it is fair.”

  “That is fine.” Cromus said

  “The world you came from had no system I am assuming from your earlier comment, how did you end up here?” The keeper asked.

  “I was approached by a person offered the opportunity basically like a job, and my curiosity won over the rest of me and here I am. Were you always a keeper?” Cromus asked.

  “Ah, your rational mind confirms you wasn’t always a half-orc, and no I wasn’t always a keeper. I like you wond up here and had to fiddle my way through things testing, questioning. but unlike you I didn’t have a wonderful and helpful person to answer soo soo many questions.” The keeper said.

  The line wasn’t missed by Cromus. “And I do really appreciate you doing such a kind thing.” He said before pausing and waiting for the keeper to ask his question.

  There was an awkward silence for a good minute. “Oh right, what type of world did you come from?”

  The kinda stumped Cromus he took a minute to think even moving his hand to his beard. “Thats tough, How do you describe something like that without just saying I don’t know normal.”

  The keepers smile didn’t fade. “Give it your best try.”

  “Well no one has mana, or a character sheet, as you guessed already. Things like that were only in entertainment, like books, movies, or video games.” The keeper seemed to pay closer attention to those words. “We have cars, airplanes, boats, and subs. all types of music, a world similar to this one but more modernized. instead of leveling up and growing in power, you climb the corporate ladder.”

  “Ok, Ok. What are movies, video games, cars, airplanes, subs, corporate ladder is it just a very big ladder?” The Keeper asked excitedly.

  “Hold up if we keep up the exchange you asked for. It is my turn to ask.” Cromus said.

  The keeper seemed to deflate and sag. “You are right. go ahead, ask away.” pounting.

  “Maybe for quick follow up questions we allow things in reason. Ill answer your last ones but I get questions with multiple add ons as well.” Cromus suggested

  The keeper stopped his pouting and nodded.

  “Ok. Movies are recordings of people acting out scenes from a book. but instead of reading and picturing in your head you can watch it unfold in front of you.” Cromus said.

  “So like a play? but you can watch it whenever and the people don’t have to be there?” The Keeper asked.

  “Yes!” Cromus replied. “Now cars, are like carriages but they have this piece that is called an engine that propels itself so you don’t need horses, A airplain is similar but in the sky, and A sub is like a boat but also has a engine, and has the capabilities of being under the water not just over.” By the time the Keeper was finished he was practically drooling at the idea of these descriptions.

  He started to ask a lot of new questions but cromus cut him off. “Come on if you bombard me again Ill never be able to ask my questions.”

  The keeper pulled back “Fair. Ok ask away.”

  “What is the system, really? Is it alive? Programmed? Divine?” He asked.

  This time the keeper had to think. Cromus gave him time but his patience ran thin after five minutes of silence.

  “Are you stalling now?” Cromus asked.

  “No, I am just trying to figure out a way to tell it without the system silencing me.” The keeper said.

  “Is it really that big of a deal?” Cromus asked.

  “Can be. It’s weird at times some people only hear noises randomly if it deems the convo more than they need. Here lets try this. The system is older than the gods, it sets rules for gods, keepers, and mortals. is it alive? No telling, as far as I know it just is. Thats the best I got for you.” The keeper finished. “Now whats video games?”

  “like a movie except you control the character you are watching.” Vague is probably best for me to say so I don’t just get trapped in a never ending loop. “Were you like me from another world or did you become a keeper after reaching a certain level?”

  “World similar to yours, no magic or system, but all we had was carriages, books though I didn’t know how to read back then, that was a luxury of nobles.” The keeper said getting lost in what seemed like something he hadn’t thought of in a very long time.

  “How old are you?” Cromus asked.

  “I lost count. old enough mortals' blood lines have died out since I first arrived.” He said.

  “Why goblins?” The Keeper asked.

  “Uh, I was captured and with one of them, in freeing ourselves they just seemed to stick around. kicked out of their tribe, and as we tried to understand the system we stumbled upon figuring out I could unlock classes for the youngest two and we just kept going from there.” Cromus said to him it just felt like the right thing to do.

  “Two youngest? so the others with a moon elf, they are also with you?” The Keeper asked.

  “Yeah we split up so since we are so spread out level wise your dungeon wouldn’t eat us alive.” Cromus answered honestly. “What is your benefit for this?”

  “I gain levels and experience from adventures entering my dungeon rather than whether you live or die. granted its more if you fail, but if I force you to lose…” He trailed off. “Its penalized, so it’s best to allow you to do your own thing and I observe. learn and improve my dungeon in response.” He stated his words seemed carefully chosen.

  The Keeper tapped his fingers together, the sound faint but persistent. “You’re not like most Representatives I’ve met, Cromus.”

  “You’ve met others?” Cromus asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Oh yes,” the Keeper said quickly. “Well… not in some time. And not all of them were… as inquisitive.” He offered a half-smile that didn’t quite settle on his face. “Many just waved their blessings around like a weapon. You? You actually ask questions. That makes you… dangerous.”

  Cromus narrowed his eyes. “That supposed to be a compliment?”

  “A warning,” the Keeper replied. “Those who ask questions can be seen as a threat.”

  The Keeper’s eyes drifted back to the character sheet, lingering just a little too long.

  “What are you still reading?” Cromus asked, trying to sound casual.

  “Oh, just absorbing details,” the Keeper said a beat too late. “You’re quite the anomaly.”

  Cromus didn’t miss it. That pause. The deflection.

  “You found something,” he said.

  The Keeper’s smile didn’t waver, but one of his eyes slowly turned toward Cromus while the other kept scanning the sheet.

  “No Cromus, I just believe you are odd, Gaia’s chosen, inquisitive, hungry for it even, if you are not careful others will rather remove you then entertain you.”

  Cromus froze.

  The Keeper didn’t blink. “Some truths are better hinted at than spoken aloud. Let’s just say… tread carefully, Cromus. Sometimes with questions you get answers or attention you do not want.”

  Silence stretched between them.

  Then, the Keeper clapped his hands again. “Right! One last question before I let you rest with your nap-happy companions.”

  Cromus blinked, trying to shake the weight of the last comment. “Alright. Shoot.”

  The Keeper tilted his head. “What do you want? Not for your group. Not for Gaia. For you.”

  Cromus hesitated. He opened his mouth, then closed it again.

  “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I guess I just want to go as far as I can get as powerful as I can and leave a story behind.”

  The Keeper grinned like a man who just saw that very story begin.

  “Then Ill leave you with this, a life like that means you will take on challenges others run from. Are you prepared for higher challenges?” The keeper asked.

  “Yes.” Cromus responded without hesitation his blood pumping

  The keepers smiled thinned “Good i look forward to you making your way through my dungeon.” At that he left how he appeared, body absorbed into his hat shell and the hat shell vanishing from existence.

  “Well that wasn’t ominous at all.” Cromus said out loud to him