The Bee Dungeon

The God of Bees watched as ethereal workers led a group of fallen bees to her realm. Since she was helping with the dead now, the God of Death had asked her to evaluate any fallen bees’ deeds and the claims other gods had to their souls, then to make arrangements for their afterlife.

“Deeds good, worked and died for hive!”

Naturally, all of the bees ranked highly in her opinion. She turned to one set of bees.

“Worked for God of Light? Ok, can go to Hive of All Light, Fourth Queen of First Dynasty of First Spawner of First Bee Dungeon will take care of!”

She turned to the next set.

“Worked for God of Fire? God of Fire wants, but Hive of All Fire has no queen. Stay here, will send once Hive of All Fire has queen, ok?”

More bees from the First Bee Dungeon then moved in and guided the bees from the First Fire Dungeon to their hives, where they would stay for now. The God of Bees then turned to the final remaining bee.

“Hi God of Mischief, what need?”

The bee flinched.

“How did you know? I thought I mimicked the hive of hives well this time?”

The God of Bees danced a confirmation.

“Did, so could tell was Mischief from hive of hives.”

The God of Mischief slapped his bee face with a bee leg.

“Ah, did it too well that time, did I? Hive minds are real tricky.”

The God of Mischief flew over and landed on the God of Bees’ head.

“Now, as for why I’m here…I don’t need anything right now, but I know someone who does! Someone who’s real interested in meeting you and your best little dungeon master, I think you’ll both really like him!”

The God of Bees’ antennae twitched.

“Ok, send here and will negotiate.”

The God of Mischief buzzed his wings.

“Ah, that’s the thing. He can’t really come to World One as of yet and you only exist there for now. We’ll need a bit of help from Beely first…”

The God of Bees considered for a moment.

“Will help Belissar? Will give authority?”

The God of Mischief vibrated and spread happy pheromones.

“Now that I can guarantee!”

The God of Bees joined the happy dance.

“Then ok!”

The God of Mischief laughed.

“Thanks Bee! You won’t regret this one, you might even…celebrate it!”

***

The next day, Belissar made his way over to the nexus door room after his morning routine, accompanied by his escorts from the hive of hive. Niobee would be riding his head as usual, while Vinoi the Dragonslayer and several healing soldier bees from the Second of the Sixth’s hive would be riding his shoulders and back. The hive of hives had apparently sent the bee with the deadliest sting and some bees that could heal him if he was hurt.

Finnakynne joined them from the bumblebee nest, while Tarwantrad, Urubran, and Hesfalle met them at the nexus door. Tarwantrad gave him a big smile.

“Ready to go have some fun, Belissar?”

Belissar returned her smile.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”

Tarwantrad’s grin grew.

“Ok! Then, Finnakynne?”

Finnakynne gave a salute and hovered in front of Belissar.

“I’m going to make you look like an elf, Beely, so that no one stares at you. Is that ok?”

Belissar nodded. Finnakynne then cast a spell over him. Belissar could feel a bit of mana surrounding him, but otherwise didn’t feel anything amiss. Tarwantrad spun around and pointed to the nexus door.

“Ok then, let’s go!”

***

Tarwantrad led the group into the Compact and to Calwaskon City. Vinoi shifted around regularly on his shoulder, directing her keen giantkiller vision every which way to search for threats, but they were none to find. Finnakynne had been true to her word, unlike last time, none of the city’s inhabitants spared him more than a second glance. It was certainly more comfortable than the first time Belissar had visited, when everyone had stared at him and many had outright glared.

So, Belissar was able to relax a bit and pay more attention to the scenery this time around. Tarwantrad led them down a street lined with trees, spaced out so that their canopies wouldn’t block the sun. The sunlight illuminated the white brick streets and the buildings made of white and golden wood, while regular shade kept the temperature surprisingly cool. Fair folk of all sorts walked about at a leisurely pace, many of them stopping to chat with one another.

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Tarwantrad brought them to a building that had flowering vines wrapped around its white and gold beams. A small fence surrounded a bunch of tables left out in the open, with enough vines and flowers to fill a garden. Niobee perked up as she took in the flowers. Finnakynne let out a sigh.

“Ok good, I don’t think I’m banned from this one.”

Tarwantrad smiled.

“This is the café Urubran and I usually meet at! It’s owned by a green elf and silver elf couple that makes the best herbal teas around!”

Urubran grinned.

“The flame squarestem tea is particularly good.”

Tarwantrad stared at him.

“That is, if you like food so spicy it counts as poisonous.”

Hesfalle, meanwhile, was shielding her eyes.

“…do they have indoor seating? It’s too bright out here and everything’s so…alive.”

They did indeed have indoor seating, so the group was led to a table in a small alcove, largely shielded from the rest of the café. There was a large window, but Hesfalle promptly closed its curtains, making their booth dim. Belissar was pleased to find that the walls inside also had flowering vines, which Niobee began evaluating.

Tarwantrad smiled at the sight.

“So, what would you like to try, Belissar?”

Belissar blinked.

“I…don’t know? I’ve…never been somewhere like this before.”

Tarwantrad blinked and frowned for a moment, then her face softened.

“I see, I can order some things I think you’ll like, in that case?”

Belissar gave her a nod, not sure what else to do. Eventually, an elf came by. Tarwantrad, Urubran, Hesfalle, and Finnakynne all put in orders while Belissar watched. It was kind of like the village tavern, when Belissar had poked in to deliver mead. He had never actually stayed to order anything, though.

So, he just waited to see what would happen. Eventually, the elf came back carrying a tray full of food and drink. She placed some in front of each of them, even Belissar. He looked down to find a cup of tea and a piece of bread of some sort.

With the other’s encouragement, Belissar picked it up and tried a bite.

His teeth cut right through it and slammed together. Belissar blinked, the bread was much, much softer than he had expected, softer than he had ever known bread could be. And it turned out the bread wasn’t solid all the way through, something sweet burst into and over his mouth from his violent bite. He quickly swallowed the bunch in his mouth, then licked his face clean as best he could. The bees moved to help him, lapping up the liquid.

Belissar finally composed himself enough to taste what he had eaten.

“Ah, fruit jam?”

Tarwantrad grinned.

“I thought you might like a jelly-filled pastry. How is it?”

Belissar blinked and stared at it.

“It’s good.”

He took another bite, one much softer and more measured.

“Really good, I should see if the karnuq know how to make jam. Or could we make these with honey?”

Finnakynne, who had previously been devouring a pastry as large as her, froze solid. Her eyes opened as wide as they could go.

“Beely…you’re a genius!”

***

Belissar eventually noticed everyone eating much slower than he was, so he tried to match them. The Circle masters spent the time in between their bites talking about their dungeons, not to ask for advice or arrange exchanges of monsters, but simply to discuss what was going on within them. Tarwantrad and Finnakynne asked him about his mead-making and for stories about the bees. Belissar enjoyed recounting what the various hives were getting up to.

Eventually, they finished their food and conversation and left the café. Belissar was starting to enjoy his time and wondered what would come next.

“Ok, now what?”

Belissar turned to Tarwantrad…and found her stiffening.

“…this was all I had planned.”

Finnakynne stared at her. Tarwantrad…averted her gaze.

“Urubran and I usually just go home when we’re finished talking! Don’t look at me like that, I had this idea, didn’t I? Why don’t one of you come up with something?!”

Finnakynne was unamused.

“Because, Tarwantrad, Ury there is about to suggest arson, while Hesfalle will lead us to a graveyard, or maybe a butchery. Would you like to watch a forest fire or dismantle corpses?”

Urubran just smirked, while Hesfalle tilted her head.

“What’s wrong with dismantling corpses? You can feel the death spreading through them as tiny lives work together to break down the flesh in the great circle of life! You can feel the intense emotions of their final moments, you can explore the signs of their souls passing on the last great voyage, all while you make use of all that they left behind for the creation of new life.”

Finnakynne just gestured towards Hesfalle while staring at Tarwantrad.

“Right…well why don’t you think of something, then?! You already told me no flowers today!”

Finnakynne puffed her cheeks and stomped on the air.

“Because no one trusts me to think of things! I don’t trust me to think of things! Nothing I’ve done in this city was good! The only good fun I’ve had was in…Beely’s Tower…”

Finnakynne paused. Then her eyes lost focus for a bit and she stared blankly forward. Right when Belissar was about to ask if she was ok, her focus and returned…and she slapped her own face.

“…I’m an idiot. Ok, I have an idea! New plan everyone! Follow me…and no! It’s not a trick! Stop looking at me like that!”

Tarwantrad and Urubran glanced at each other, then surrounded Belissar on either side and looked at Niobee.

“Don’t worry, Niobee, we’ll protect Belissar if she tricks us.”

Finnakynne did her best to hold in a scream.

***

But to everyone’s surprise, Finnakynne just led them back to Belissar’s Tower. Belissar was a bit confused by this, but Finnakynne stopped and flew in front of him before they entered.

“Ok, Beely! I know we’re going back to your Tower, but you’re still not working right now! Just follow my lead, ok?”

Belissar nodded, then Finnakynne led them inside. Belissar was still confused, but at least Niobee was happy that they were back home. So he had no complaints as he followed Finnakynne to a shortcut.

Finnakynne led them to the karnuq’s settlement, of all places. She didn’t take them to the village though, instead taking them to an empty meadow on the outskirts.

There, Belissar found a bumblebee soldier on the ground, running around with a bunch of karnuq children. There was a small ball made of wolf-mole leather in front of them, the bumblebee soldier was knocking it around and keeping it away from the kids. The karnuq children laughed and chased after it.

The bumblebee soldier then stopped when she saw Belissar and flew over, zipping around in a big circle. Finnakynne put her hands on her hips.

“Bumbly! We need your help! Beely here…and all these other dungeon masters, while I’m at it…doesn’t know how to play! You need to show him!

Bumbly buzzed her wings. She flew back over to the kids, who had taken the ball in her absence, and dove down in the middle of them. The karnuq with the ball fell backwards in surprise, then Bumbly knocked the ball away from him. She spun around and ran across the ground, keeping the ball ahead of her with her front legs, until she arrived back in front of Belissar. She pushed the ball over to him until it hit his foot.

“…should I try to keep it away from you?”

Bumbly buzzed happily.

“Ok…here I go?”

Belissar tried to knock the ball with his foot like he saw the bumblebee do, but hit it too far. The ball flew away from him and Bumbly rushed forward, along with the karnuq children. Belissar had lost the ball immediately.

He glanced over at Finnakynne.

“I guess we chase it now?”

Finnakynne smiled at him and nodded. Belissar still wasn’t sure what he was doing, but started running towards Bumbly anyways.

The bee spun around and knocked the ball towards him. Belissar hadn’t expected that and the ball bounced off his feet again, rolling in an unexpected direction. The karnuq children quickly took it before he could respond.

“…it’s kind of hard.”

Finnakynne just giggled.

“You’ll get the hang of it! Besides, Bumbly’s definitely going to help you! So go, go!”

Belissar did his best to comply.

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