I ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED A DUNGEON

After half an hour of walking they reached the place where the spear had landed. Here, the trees were thick and old; the branches intertwined overhead as if to form a roof. Blackstone scales dotted the ground, reflecting the remnants of the fading sunlight. They ranged from the size of Felix’s thumb to the size of his entire arm. They crunched under their feet with each step.

The entrance to the cave was situated between two great oak trees. Three meters high and two wide, the cave looked like a black gash in the hillside. Felix came to a stop in front of the cave entrance and allowed the chilly breeze that escaped the hole to hit him. He felt the cold creeping to his back and settled behind his head.

"So I am going in alone?" Felix queried.

Jackson nodded. "Yep."

Felix did not need any explanation. Jackson Numen burned hot. He was a fire element who exuded warmth continuously, making him feel like a live stove. If he entered the cave, the serpent would be able to detect him within ten steps from the cave mouth.

Felix could have brought Dune with him, but she was unable to control her Numen properly. The creature would react to even the slightest disturbances. Dune inside a confined space with a creature like that? Felix did not want to find out what would happen.

"Keep an eye on Dune." Felix looked at the cave. "I’ll be back in swift with the eggs."

Jackson nodded and gave him a thumbs up. "You should not be worried about anything."

Felix went into the cave.

The light quickly diminished. The first couple of meters could be seen due to reflection of gray stone, which reflected little light that could come through the canopy. However, the tunnel turned left and there was no more brightness. Felix took two cards out of his sleeve and infused them with Numen. They started giving out weak blue light, barely lighting the walls.

As he walked the passage went down and there was no more light. The floor was rough and uneven, covered with traces of erosion of water and stones. Every step he made was accompanied by sounds of scraping shoes about loose rocks. The walls were wet; they felt like being covered with slime that had never seen the sunlight for hundreds of years. Felix touched the walls with his fingers as he passed by. The air was cold everywhere.

Felix remembered the last similar cave. It turned into a girl. Some rituals turned into his marriage contract. He was praying to the God mother that a similar case won’t happen here. What if the snake became a girl?

"NO no no." Felix shook his head, "if I see some circles here I’ll instantly make a run for it."

The tunnel led to a large hall. The ceiling of the hall went high; Felix could not see it even now. The hall stretched left and right. The blue light from his cards barely illuminated a meter ahead. He stopped in the middle of the room and began turning slowly in circles.

Now, where are the damn eggs?

He started his search. He touched the walls looking for some seam or crack; he inspected the corners, kicked off the loose rocks, and examined the floor. There was nothing. He came to the other wall and started looking there too. Still nothing. There were no secret passages, hidden rooms or carved compartments.

He searched the whole hall. His fingers became cold because of the cold stone, his knees hurt from bending down. His patience decreased.

Where the hell is it?

He leaned against the wall, his head falling back. His eyes traced along the wall.

What’s that?

A hole was perched high above him, next to the ceiling. Dark and circular, it easily blended with the surroundings. He had passed it three times, without noticing its presence. Now that he noticed it, he didn’t get why he hadn’t seen it.

Felix got off the wall. He found small footholds on the stone. Ledges, grooves, divots, jutting rocks. He climbed, testing every hold before putting his full weight on it. His fingers found grips. His boots scratched the stone. He pulled himself upwards, hand over hand, foot over foot, until he reached the hole.

He dragged himself inside.

The tunnel beyond was smaller than he expected. He had to bend his knees, bowing his neck, to make it through. The ceiling was pushing back on him. The walls caressed his shoulders. Blue light from his cards illuminated the narrow passage.

Slowly the air changed.

Felix could feel the difference on his skin and face. The coldness he felt upon entering began to dissipate. He felt sweat rolling down his face and wiped it out of his eyes, still moving forward.

The tunnel made two sharp turns and started to slope down. The temperature raised with each step. His clothes stuck to his body. His hands started to slip from the cards. He put them aside, trusting his instincts and letting the growing heat guide him. The tunnel ended in a dull orange glow from the other end.

He rounded the last turn and entered a small chamber.

His heart jumped.

Two eggs were situated in the middle of the room. Lying on a pile of blackstones, they were neatly placed. Each egg was about the size of a man’s head. Dark as coal, their shells were smooth and solid.

Two eggs... forty silvers per egg... that is eighty silvers! That should be enough food for months!

He went further and crouched next to the eggs. He gently put his hands on the first egg. It felt really solid. Like a chunk of rock in the form of an egg. He picked the egg, embraced it by his chest and put it into his bag which was closed with straps. With the same movements, he took the second egg and put it into his bag. This one was even heavier.

Now, get the hell out of here before things go wrong.

His feet made quick steps but not fast ones. Fast steps lead to running. And running could make a fall. He needed to keep moving steadily, keeping his breath calm. He could feel the heat and hear how the bag knocked against his hip with every step he made. It was held by his hand firmly.

His fear grew.

What if the serpent was in the cave? What if the serpent was already in the main hall? What if the serpent had just left for searching some food? And could come back now? He did not know. And did not wanted to know. He had what he had come for and had to go quickly.

The tunnel’s entrance came. He stopped there and looked down to the hall. It seemed empty and quiet.

He put his palm to his chest. He could feel how his heart beat under his hand rapidly. "I am going to be alright," he told himself quietly and reminded that he did it once. He was near the end. His eggs were secure. His partners were outside waiting for him. He was almost safe.

Something hit his head.

He winced and rubbed it and looked down. Next to his feet, there was a piece of blackstone scale. It was the size of his hand, and razor sharp.

He gasped and lifted his head.

For some seconds, he could see nothing but the ceiling of the hall which was black. But then a rustling sound echoed in the chamber. He sent the cards flying up to see more clearly.

The snake was flattened against the ceiling.

It was fifteen meters long, its body was almost two meters wide at some points. Its scales were sharp, black and gleamed with dull reflection. Its head was hanging like that of a lizard, flat and with angles. It looked at him with its eyes. Its tongue darted once.

Hiss

The noise filled the hall. It echoed inside of Felix’s chest. It moved so fast for an animal of such proportions, rushing to the mouth of the tunnel, its mouth open and its body uncurling from a coil like a spring.

"Shit." Felix took a step back.

The head of the snake slammed into the mouth of the tunnel. Rock crumbled. Fragments flew. Felix leaped and landed on its body.

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