The Chimera Summoner

“Candy caves.” Jennie grunted, looking around.

It was the name our class had dubbed the common dungeon biome when it came up in class. In person I admitted that the moss did look a bit like cotton candy. 

The whole place has a kind of eerie beauty to it. 

“Let's get moving.” I said. “Scout?” 

Lucy saluted and dashed away down one of the three tunnels that lead away from our starting cave. She came back in less than a minute. 

“Two big frog monsters this way!” She said brightly. “Want me to check another?” 

“No, that'll do.” I said. “Jennie?” 

She shrugged. 

It was well known that Wayfinding was less about solving a maze and more about finding a path that you could traverse. If a way had monsters you could beat, that was the right way. 

The big frog monsters were pink and green, poisonous, and the size of large dogs. 

They croaked angrily the moment we came into view. We leapt into action. They literally leapt into action. 

Lucy darted forward, trying to pull aggro, while Jennie started working around the edge of the rocky room. The Frogs leapt into the air and crashed down in front of Lorna, Lucy and I. Tongues lashed out, long and barbed. I dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. Spectral waltz would've been smarter. But I just didn't quite trust it yet. 

Lucy crashed into the side of one with a boom, bowling it into the other. She got their attention and started kiting them back away from Lorna and I. 

Her arm sizzled like bacon in a pan from where she'd touched the frog’s flank. I sent her a [Paramore's mending] and felt a spike of gratitude down our bond. 

Lorna drifted into the air, hair billowing in a breeze only she could feel. Icy blue runes wheeled around her hands and the frogs slowed, frost forming on their skin like they were out in an invisible blizzard. They croaked pitifully, their mobility greatly hampered. 

Jennie appeared on cue, using her cross strike skill on a frog’s back. Her daggers sliced through the frog, ice cracking and shattering under her blades for an even more savage wound. Her frog went down, splattering her with frozen toxic fluid. Thankfully, being frozen, it simply fell off, rather than stick and burn. 

One on one, Lucy went on the offensive and threw a swift barrage of thunder punches, landing each with a bassy thud. 

The second frog made a last ditch attempt to get her, leaping once again and deploying it's tongue midflight. 

A barb clipped her cheek but she dodged the worst of it, and Jennie finished off the battered frog.

And all at once it was over. 

We stood, panting, and scanning our surroundings for hidden dangers. But none appeared. 

“Well done.” Lorna praised us all. 

I nodded. My heart was pounding in my chest. It hammered in my ear making everything seem far away. We'd fought dungeon monsters. Real dungeon monsters in the actual dungeon. It was unreal. I wanted to cheer and scream and flee and plant a flag of victory over the whole Dungeon. The world spun.

“Eir, I'm hurt.” Came a pitiful voice.

Lucy sidled up to me with a pouting lip and a finger pointed at the shallow cut on her cheek. It was about the severity of a cat scratch, but looked red and angry. 

“Can my big strong healer pleaaaaase patch me up?” She pleaded, pressing herself into me. I groaned as her breasts squished into mine. “I'll be sure to pay her back for it?” 

I couldn't help it. I grinned. Lucy grinned back. I loved her playfulness. And just like that, my heart was back to normal, and the distant feeling like I was floating outside my body had disappeared. 

I ruffled her long ears fondly. She hummed, cheeks dimpling happily. Then she winced. 

I healed her cheek. 

“Uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhh!!!” She squirmed and sighed.

She clutched me, shuddering. 

I chuckled. She deserved it. She hurled herself at me, grabbing my face and shoving her tongue into my mouth as she ground against me enthusiastically. Then she pulled back with a loud pop. 

“Thank you, daddy.” She purred happily. 

“Good girl.” I praised her. She beamed. “You did really well. Everyone did really well. Good job team!” 

Jennie gave me and Lucy a huge eyeroll but flashed a thumbs up and started examining the dissolving monsters. They were going up in iridescent smoke as their bodies returned to the dungeon. And they left behind…! 

“Lesser Dungeon crystals.” Jennie announced, tossing me one. 

It was blue, and the size of my pinky nail. I marvelled at its glowing facets. 

“A common crafting reagent. A worthy find.” Said Lorna solemnly. 

“Hell yeah, Lorna.” I grinned. “That's the spirit. Everyone ready to do it again?” 

Jennie took one more second to inspect her gear for damage then nodded. 

We fell into a rhythm. Lucy would scout us up some frog monsters and we would either go attack them if there were few enough, or avoid them if there were too many or if Lucy found one of the larger golem monsters that we had started encountering. 

These were taller than me, built like houses, and covered in blue spiky crystals. And we had no interest in testing ourselves against them yet. 

Lorna repeatedly praised our discipline each time we backed away from a battle we deemed too dangerous. And I appreciated it. We all knew it was the right move. But it still irked me not to go take them down.

We probably could. But probably was not good enough for Bayloft Wayfinders.

We took sure fight after sure fight. 

There were plenty of dangerous surprises in the dungeon. There was no need to add unnecessary risk. 

Our caution was rewarded with a successful first day. We made it through six fights, killing over a dozen frogs and harvesting as many lesser mana crystals and one roll of toxic frog leather. 

It dropped from a frog neatly rolled and packaged in sturdy brown paper and tied with string. 

It was a decently valuable crafting reagent and we could trade it for a little pile of Loftys when we got back to school. 

Our first dive had already turned a decent profit!

Like in the catacombs, we found a little cavern to make a camp. There was no such thing as safety in the dungeon but we found something close, with a good bit of our flank covered by a glowing mossy wall. 

A convenient drip of water down the wall refilled our water supply with clean, cold water. It was delicious. Probably more pure than anything on the surface. 

“Good work today, everyone.” I praised. I was feeling giddy. “Jennie you're doing a lot of damage, and I've barely had to heal you all day!” 

Jennie snorted. “I think Lucy is getting hit on purpose to get you to ‘heal’ her. These frogs are slow.” 

“Shhhhhhhh!” Lucy demanded hotly. 

I glared at Lucy, who was in turn glaring at Jennie like a traitor. 

Lorna sighed. “These monsters are ill suited to trouble our team. Our mobility and healing keep us from being whittled down by their poison effects between battles. Be aware that even enemies of this power level could prove dangerous, should their powers interact more poorly with ours.”

I nodded, some of the wind coming out of my sails. I'd been feeling better and better about our run as the fights became more comfortable. 

Lorna softened. “You are still performing well. I merely caution you against overconfidence.” 

I reached out and squeezed her hand gently in gratitude. 

I realized after that I had just assumed she would become substantial for me, and blushed when I realized she had, without question. It had been natural. 

Our constant attention to the bond during battle was translating well. Our connection was growing. 

Lorna favored me with a small smile. It lit a warm place in my chest that her natural chill couldn't dampen. 

Lucy was looking back and forth between us with delight and gave me an encouraging nod. 

Jennie yawned loudly. 

“Turn in early and get back to the grind tomorrow?” She asked. “Tomorrow, I bet we can double our frog count, or better, with the whole day to kill! And now we've seen all their tricks!” 

“Never assume you know a monster's tricks.” Lorna and I said, as one. 

Lucy giggled. Jennie waved a dismissive hand. 

“Yeah yeah.” She grumbled. “Let's set watches. You want first or second?” 

“I will watch over you through the night.” Lorna proclaimed calmly. 

“Wait… all night?” Asked Jennie. “That's not fair. I can–” 

“Neither Lucy nor I require sleep.” Lorna interrupted. “Like eating, it is merely a pleasure. One that I will happily forgo so that you and Eir may attain maximum recuperation.” 

Jennie blinked. “Oh.” She didn't move. 

“It's a role I quite enjoy.” Lorna assured her. “I need my fill of solitude and quiet the same way Lucy requires a certain amount of physical affection to remain happy. Sleep assured that I will remain focused and vigilant.” 

I grabbed Lucy’s hand and dragged her to the corner to find a soft bit of moss to curl up on.

“Thank you, Lorna.” I said, gratefully. “I will feel safe knowing you're on lookout.” 

Jennie nodded reluctantly. “If you're sure… wake me if you start falling asleep. Seriously.” 

“If I lose a moment of focus, I shall awaken you to take my place.” Lorna promised. 

Jennie finally relaxed, satisfied. 

We produced some blankets, and found the mossy rocks surprisingly plush and comfy. Lucy and I curled up together, squeezing our bodies together like we were trying to get stuck that way. 

I passed out quickly to the sound of her contented breathing against my neck. 

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