Dungeon Robotics 9 - 11

Good morning and Merry Christmas Eve! 

Regan

To say I was surprised when I felt what was equivalent to a mana storm in my dungeon would be an understatement. Locating the source, I found Hephaestus working on a now tier four Nova. I waited without interrupting until the process that had been started was finished. The giant dwarf used every ounce of his training that he’d amassed on this day.

“I would be most interested in learning about what exactly is going on here,” I commented after Nova and I moved away from the sleeping dwarf.

“I was shown how puny I really am and given a chance to grow stronger.” Nova suddenly dropped his massive head to the ground hard enough to crack the stone. “I need to tell you about something.”

He went on to explain about how he’d moved to tier four. Once he finished, I placed my hand on his head. “It sounds like it was a choice that both parties made. I see this a failure more on my part than yours. I never questioned why the orb remained figuring that it was similar to my old world. Now it makes more sense. If anyone is guilty, then it is I.”

“Father no! You had no way of knowing,” Nova argued but I shook my head.

“But I did. I am letting things that I should give more attention slip to the wayside due to my quest to protect the planet. If I had taken even a few more hours to examine the orb, or had spent time with the sun spirits, either might have shown me there was still a life waiting to be born.”

We sat in silence as we mulled over our thoughts. I would make more of an effort. An effort not to miss any details from here on. As I was just shown, a life could depend on it. Even if my mission is to protect all life on this planet. If I started disregarding the life in front of me, then I might as well have failed in my quest.

“How will the mortal take it?”

“Louella?” I echoed. “Not sure. She might handle it well or be quite upset. No, I imagine she will be saddened a good deal when she learns of this. Especially considering how much time she spends with the spirits. Why they have not seen to tell her before now is a mystery to me, but I fear she might twist it in some way to make it her fault. Parents have a tendency to do as such.”

“I will tell her. I made a promise.”

I nodded in understanding. “Very well. We will go together.” Nova shifted into a human form and stood next to me. “Speaking of parents, I noticed your eggs. How long until you have a brood of your own?”

“Several more months, I fear. Dragon eggs take quite a long time to hatch.”

“Well. I can’t wait.” Tapping his arm, I teleported us to the castle in the town. It was still early in the evening but people were running around as if they were under siege. It was still the controlled chaos that comes with organization under a firm hand.

Turning, I found there was a massive line leading to the queen’s office. The guards saw me though and rushed in to inform Louella. I felt bad about the people waiting but only nodded my condolences to them as we were shown into the office. An official of some sort made his way out as we entered.

“Regan! And I’m not sure I’ve met this gentleman,” Louella exclaimed as we walked in.

“This is Nova. I think the last time you saw him was when he went on walk.”

“Ah!” She clapped her hands and looked at Nova. “Yes. So you can take human form too.”

Nova kneeled bowing his head. “Normally, I should be doing this in my dragon form, but I would tear the castle apart if I transformed. I must express my sorrow and guilt about something that has happened…” He proceeded to explain the situation.

When the story was over, Louella moved to the window and stared out. “There was another…” she said with a hollow tone.

I placed a hand on the kneeling Nova’s shoulder. “If anyone is to blame its me.”

“No. No one is to blame. That would be a mark on the memory of the child that we lost. I understand the situation. Her sisters knew from the beginning that’s why they never said anything. As powerful as you are Regan, I think it might have been impossible even for you.”

“I have given it some thought since I first heard about it. Likely it would have resulted in another batch of spirits with the energy falling short of one. Without calculations that are precise to the quantum level at least.”

“Then!” Louella spun and gave a smile just as the sun flood through the window while tears ran down her cheeks. “Let us remember the child and keep her alive.”

“Yes.” Both Nova and I said at the same time.

“Sorry,” Louella said as she moved to the side room connected to the office.

“Of course, it will be hard,” I mumbled as she excused herself. I turned to the other person in the room since the situation was closed for the moment. “Wrakras. What is going on?”

“The queen declared war on Thonaca. She was planning on telling you later this evening, I believe.”

“What do you think?” I asked. He was a rather decent tactician in his own right. Given that he was protecting the queen, he was probably as well informed as she was and could explain in her stead.

“They have a good shot. As far as wars go, of course. They’re not planning an outright culling or destruction. More along the lines of showing our might to bring reason back to the king that has gone mad.”

“I see. I guess that means you’re otherwise preoccupied.”

“I would prefer to be here protecting the lady, yes.”

That was one name I would have to remove from my party. Julie and he had a bit of overlap anyway, so it wouldn’t be too big a loss not being able to take him with me. “Is there anything that I can do to assist?”

“Well us mortals were planning on doing most of this without too much aid from you. To prove a point to our enemies but also to ourselves, I think. That said, the queen was hoping to use the marker location she made for Ebonyfalls to throw a small and quiet force in there to win the first battle without too much bloodshed.”

“I’ll see if I can get it working. As you know there is a lot of inference right now.”

“I know and have informed the queen.”

I nodded. “Nova and I will see ourselves off then.”

With a pop, I moved us back into the main dungeon. I let Nova go take care of somethings while I went to gather the others. His body being so new, he needed to get some practice in before he threw himself down the throat of a dungeon.

“Father!”

I stopped myself from running away and turned to see Ignea fuming as she floated in the air. She had reached the size of a human teenager and her technological parts flowed with mana. “Ignea. How is the dungeon?”

“How is the dungeon?! Should a host be asking that!?” she shouted poking my chest.

“No, probably not,” I replied rubbing my head.

“If it was just me, I would be overworked! Overworked, I tell you!” She actually started to growl at me. “I don’t know if you know this, but your dungeon is abnormal! Its at least twice the size of a normal dungeon, not to mention you have six dungeons that I have to manage. The subconscious mechanics only do so much!”

“Sorry!” I quickly grabbed her hand and squeezed it like you would a child you were trying to calm. “I promise to be a good dungeon once all this is over, but right now I don’t trust anyone else to do what I’m trying to accomplish. It doesn’t matter how good a dungeon I am, if there isn’t a Murgin to call home.”

Most of the rage seemed to leave her and she flew into my arms for a hug. “I’m scared. Worried that something might happen to you. We’ve encountered so many hosts that have nearly died recently. I don’t want you to be next.”

I patted her head. “Don’t worry. I learned my lesson. I’m taking every measure to ensure that I never get trapped in another dimension.”

“You better swear to come back. More than just this dungeon needs you now.”

“I know. I know. I do want to say how proud of you I am with how you’ve been filling in for me. I am quite serious when I say you’re the only I would trust with this task.”

“Glint and Lena have been a big help.”

“Then I will have to remember to thank them, if my daughter is relying on them so much.”

I comforted Ignea for a few more minutes before we separated. With a pop of ozone, she teleported off into the dungeon and I followed suit to my next target. Julie was working over the mines, but the dungeon dive took precedence. Duilin was with her allowing me to snag both of them at the same time.

Vetur and Anubis were in the north hunting down rogue undead and necromancers. Even have issuing a magical statement to all the necromancers and their followers, there were still many that refused to surrender. I would rather not have something biting my ankle, so they were busy hunting them down. Of the group I wanted for the dive, these two were the hardest to find since they weren’t actively in my aura. A few hours of highspeed flight and I was able to locate them

I debated about bringing Izora but decided that she would be useful. She was tier three with access to my mana pool as a priestess. I decided that she would be a great asset down in the enemy dungeon. Of course, the guards demanded to come along without a care of the danger.

After her, I just needed to grad Alara and I felt I had everyone I would need. Plus, the couple hundred automata that I would be bringing along. Just to, you know, fill out the ranks. They were all in tier three zone and should be a welcome addition to the generals that would be my party.

“Time to dive the dungeon.”

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