This is a daily reminder: You have 32 unallocated stat points
We watch as the various little spiderlings pop out of the axen corpse. I look at Red who has a rather wistful look on her face. She is in her attendant form.
“What's wrong Lady Crafter?” Asks Said for me.
“I just remembered a pleasant memory.”
I look at her, then pick up one of the escaping spiders. Just a bit of body morphic magic. I then hug my sister in my six arm embrace. The spider goes from my hand into her torso. She squirms but doesn't fight it. Welcomes it. She gives me a smile.
“All well for now but they always grow too large.”
“Not that one, it can be your forever torment but just that one. No Sara spider pinata. Not sure how it breathes though.” Said speaks for me as I give Red a smile.
She twitches, “Torso only dear, I never considered that. They all should have suffocated but they didn't.”
“Perhaps you're imparting more to your princesses than you thought.” Said opines for me.
We did feed them blood. Vampire spiders? Perhaps they will change the name of the dungeon one day. I watched Red twitch again. I grow wistful too. Her fond memories of masochism are now mine as well. It's not long before I have my own pet inside me.
We willed half the remaining spiders to instances that don't have any real ones.
-----
“Red?”
“Yes, Delores?”
“I can't hear your heart or lungs.”
“I removed them from this form to make a point to Said.”
“...Can you put them back? I prefer you not disturb my guest by your lack of breathing.”
I reform them, the illusion's needs not straining my blood core as it is both a greater difference from my true form and a request from the mistress. The beating heart moves none of my blood.
-----
I make more braids for the yawning Kalidia. She looks at me with sleepy eyes. It takes her a moment but then brings up my new additions.
“You're up to six arms.”
I nod.
She looks confused, “Do you plan to add more?”
I shake my head in the negative. The confusion grows, she flicks a look to the seemingly bored Said on my head.
“The Lady has gotten used to me talking for her. This form can still talk in sentences but her social skills are atrophying at a rapid rate.”
I grow annoyed at Said. She just laughs. I huff a sigh.
“She’s not wrong, I need to make more of an effort.”
“Or you can become mute and I can say whatever I want.” Said chimes in.
I blow a bit of air at her but she just flits away.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 32 unallocated stat points
You have gained [Permanent Blood Mana Sight] Intermediate 1
Intermediate - You need more blood eyes, how about your blood having the eyes of all the souls you consumed
Perception raised 1054
I block the swing as I feel them open inside me. I stagger backwards.
“Lady Magdeline?”
“Apologies mister Sdrae, a bit of mild discomfort has broken my form.”
Who needs a pet spider wiggling inside yourself if you just have eyes inside… nevermind, are they inside you as well sister.
-Yes, going by a rough guess, I think we each have half. Hopefully we will never kill a cyclops.
The laugh will need to be internal, I am on duty. I continue my spar. What good does eyes on my blood do? What does it even mean?
“Lady Magdeline, will it be possible for my fathers to meet your mother when they arrive next week.”
“I do not keep her schedule but I shall ask her when next I meet with her.”
He nods and swings again. Wonder what that is about.
-----
“Your tea, Delores.”
Tea in a graveyard with dead goblin skeletons. A strangely common occurrence.
“I need a moment to myself Kal.”
She nods and I will myself away to my couture. I pull my blood into my hand. After enough emerges that my hand is covered, a blazing blood eye bubbles up onto it. I don't see out of it, but it is staring at me. Accusing me. But does it always look at me? I look away, then try to look back. It is always looking at me. I sigh.
“It's looking at what you're looking at, Lady Dungeon.”
So if I stare at it, it stares at me. I coat my body in my own blood. It does stretch further. Eyes float all over the blood slime. I look through the dungeon perspective. The eyes are flowing over my body. They never overlap. Not all of them are on the surface either. All are blazing dark red of my blood mana sight. Would I snap a person's mind should they see all this? The deeper the mesmerize for each eye they see. I pull my blood back in. The sea of eyes goes back inside myself.
“Thank you, Said.”
She boops me on the nose. I returned to the tea party.
“Everything fine, Violet?”
“Yes, I needed a moment to understand a skill, Kal.”
She nods.
-----
Mags starts laughing.
I look at her confused.
“Sorry Red, I suspect young Sdrae wishes for his father to arrange your marriage to him. I will turn them down.”
Huh, I think about that while Violet gags. My mental tail activates.
“I am not wholly opposed to the idea, mother.”
-What?
Magdeline looks at me, curious, “I was under the impression that he had mistreated you.”
“His treatment of my sister was unfortunate but he is young and has apologized. I would see it as a shield from other suitors. I would not need to be wed till after mage college, correct?”
She nods, “And here I was thinking you preferred the other sex.”
Said chimes in, “The Ladies prefer ladies but Lady Dungeon thinks Lady Crafter is hiding the real reason.”
I give a withering glare at Said. Some things are better left unsaid. The fairy hides behind Violet's head.
Magdeline gives me a questioning look, I explain with a sigh, “I fear any relationship I engage with will result in another Vampire, at which point my love just becomes maternal. If a political marriage is what they seek I am not unopposed.”
She nods at that, “It will be what his fathers will want but is it what young Sdrae wants? If it is an infatuation I am still inclined to turn it down. It would not be fair to the boy should he pine for love and be met by disinterest.”
“Unless he's into that, no kink shame mother.”
“What does kink mean?”
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I separate from my tail and hide my ghost. Violet likewise snatches Said out of the air. We give our best innocent smile.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 32 unallocated stat points
Sister has been too busy fiddling on her easy bake oven to work on our magic.
-Rude. No fuss potion making will be a boon.
I roll my eyes. That's if Gregory doesn't keel over and die.
-It's his last day of quarantine. I'm feeling hopeful. Besides we have hydras…
I smile, as if she would willingly harm our babies. A book pops into my hand. I open it with mental magic. The pages flip. I turn the pages until it is the cover spell, which seems to be a common first spell of a mage. There is a prep for magical incantations before it. I see, the incantation is personal. Each unique to the individual. The more times said the same way the more solidified in the mind. Say the words while channeling mana and viola spell. Variation on the amount of mana can change the spell effect. In the cover spell, the amount of mana changes the radius of the spell. Kinda like a function, mana being the parameters the output being the spell.
I feel my soul begin to etch.
You have gained [Soul Etching] Advanced 6
Gain 160 exp
You gained 16 unallocated stat
You have gained [Dungeon 4] Intermediate 1
Intermediate - You can set boundaries for your monsters, they will never leave them alive…or undead, 2 new keys
Gain 32 exp
Don't scare me like that soul.
-Our monster needs grow.
Ya, at least we didn't alter magical incantation to be programming.
-Why not, I believe our previous Lark enjoyed programming.
Sure, she enj— The entire dungeon shakes at that. I feel our soul burn at the change we wrought.
You have gained [Soul Etching] Advanced 7
Gain 160 exp
[Math] becomes [Magical Math] Basic 1
Magical Math - Math is just the language of computers, magical math is the language of your spells
Basic - Your spells can take one Arcane mana parameter
Gain 5 exp
You have gained the skill [Magical Programming] Basic 1
Magical Programming - Form your spells in your very own programming language, nerd
Basic - your status screen has a compiler and execute function, [Voiceless]
Gain 5 exp
I’m trembling on the ground when first Mags finds me followed by Cecelia. Qorth and Lea are with Red. They shake me a bit before I become lucid. Qorth comes in carrying Red, followed by Lea. She wanted to check on us both.
“...hear me. Violet!”
Said floats off my head, “The Lady Dungeon is lucid again, she just been rocked by a new revelation.”
“The entire dungeon was, I've never felt it that bad.” Cecelia speaks in a worried voice.
I shift to my Attendant form which just gets a humpf from Said.
“I think the reason I never got [Magical Incantation] was because I was [Voiceless].”
Mags thinks on that, “Magic being an expression of the soul, I am to assume you changed yourself. Did you rid yourself of [Voiceless]?”
Red ghost expresses our resentment, “I wish.”
“Then what changed, ‘One heart attack after another’.”
“Still sounds like a lover quip, personal knight.” Said teases as Qorth attempts to swat her.
I roll my eyes, “I gained [Magical Math] and [Magical Programming].”
Mags looks annoyed, “Why do you consider Math a language and what is programming.”
Oh dear this could take a bit. Red makes the first attempt.
“Ahhh consider etching multiple instructions into a golem, one leading to the next. If you did that, it would be a program for the golem. Programming is just making those sets of instructions. Except I can do it on my status screen and it will make spells.”
Cecelia gripping the bridge of her nose, “And the math?”
I step in, “My previous Lark had machines that took these instructions, they ran off numbers. Hence [Math] was the language of these machines.”
“Computers?” Cecelia surprised me. “You spoke of them the day before we had to spirit you away.”
My eyes begin to glow red, my sister does as well. Cecelia hugs me while Qorth asks Red what's wrong.
“The ladies remember their rage. Keep going, they will see all your eyes.”
Mags touches Red shoulder, it being too crowded to pull her into an embrace, “I understand that it was a painful time but please calm yourselves.”
Cecelia speaks to me in a soothing voice, “I know sweetie, I know.” I just grip her harder.
-----
“Any reason why this place decided to shake like some over tiers were having a spat this morning.”
I take a moment to parse that…can higher tier really cause earthquakes with fights? I remind myself who I am and walk towards Gregory.
“It happens from time to time, knight in training. It is your last night with us, are you happy to have survived so far?”
He looks annoyed, “To be honest, I prefer the training here over the [Marshal]’s, more hands on.”
“Nothing stops you from continuing receiving beatings, ‘Too slow to duck’.” Qorth chimes in.
Gregory rubs the side of his head as if he was remembering something. It only causes a chortle from Qorth. I see Said flit by as Violet follows in after on her ultra violet eight legs. I smile at the change. The fairy turns around after she notices Gregory.
“Oooo the guinea pig, you should test more things on him.”
I roll my eyes, “I already owe a debt to him for what he has done so far, I have no plan of increasing it.”
She just floats off at that. Gregory posits the question, “What new potion do you need me to drink?”
Violet looks annoyed as Said says, “There is no new potion, just a theory about their ability they haven't tested yet.”
I grip the bridge of my nose when he asks, ”So what is this ability?”
“It wouldn't be a good test, you would know it was coming.” I growl out.
He is looking at me when Said barrels into his back. He doesn't notice it but tilts his head when I give him a panicked look.
“Excuse me, I need a moment with my sister.”
I willed myself into her couture.
-----
I find Red panicked and separated.
-You didn't do that on purpose did you.
“No.”
She becomes confused.
-You can talk in that form?
“Few words.” Did you not notice when you smacked me the other day?
-I was busy with stopping you from being dumb. Nevermind, Said just went into Gregory.
I saw, I can actually feel and see through his body at the moment…
-Are you not worried about infusing him?
“Very.”
-Then why is Said still in him?
It's too late now, best to learn what we can.
-I didn't want to harm others for this.
“Then don't.”
She grows annoyed at that. I just sigh.
Look, we have to know if we can piggy back on someone's soul without them noticing. Said was just being proactive with my desires. I would have preferred someone awful but here we are.
-Gregory is still kinda awful.
Not the right sort of awful.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 48 unallocated stat points
Peter, Ujan, Isabella, Hecnae sit across from me and Violet. Lea is to our right and Magdeline on our left. Gregory and the Lord are in the middle. I am in my mental tail while Violet was in her attendant form.
“It is good to see Gregory had not succumbed to any ill effects.” Isabella started the conversation.
Said is still inside his soul. He hasn't changed at all nor has he noticed.
“It's not why we are here, [Priestess] Magdeline given the new information learned, the knights will be confiscating all the keys to the dungeon. The report for your dungeon classification was missing key details and the Queendom considers you a far graver threat than originally. A full citadel will be built here to contain you. Your dungeon will be rated at the highest rank.” Sir Ujan intones.
I looked at Peter who was very annoyed at the new development. The viscount himself wishes to protest. I sigh.
“I assume then, the tournament is cancelled?”
Sir Ujan winces, “Ah no, we still plan to have that happen.”
I laugh, my sister joins me. The viscount turns to Sir Ujan.
“This dungeon has been nothing but an economic boon and you wish to strangle its output.”
“I already told you the knights will continue to harvest materials from the dungeon.”
I just can't stop laughing, absurd. My sister continues the chorus with me.
“I dinnae think one can laugh that long wit’out breathin’.” Hecnae murmurs to Isabella.
Sir Ujan slams his hand on the table, “You are being disruptive.”
“You must forgive me, you are dictating to me as if I must go along with your decisions.”
“Do you not wish to see Qorth knighted?”
I give a chuckle to that, “You are correct, I will see the tournament and then close the entrance to this dungeon forever.”
He looks annoyed at me, “You would make yourself an enemy of the knights and the Queendom? What of your ennoblement.”
“Not at all, clearly I am the issue so I will simply remove myself from the board. You said it yourself, I am a dungeon of the highest rank. The best solution is to simply close the dungeon. I am nothing but a loyal subject to our Queen.”
“I'll be ruined.” The viscount grips his head.
Sir Ujan looked annoyed, “Is there anything we can say to dissuade you from this course of action?”
I think on that, “No I suppose not, you made it clear that the knights will seek to control me. I have already removed the mana interface. Even a full reversal of this decision will not persuade me that I can trust you. The conversation is over, my resources are mine to provide and I simply am disinclined to provide them. No more mithril, no more silk, and no more health mana potions.”
I take my side of the table back to my smithy.
Magdeline starts laughing, “I don't think I've seen Ujan become that shade of angry before.”
It is quite a feat, what with him being scaled.
“The last time it happened he ended up dragging the [Marques] to me. But shhhh they are arguing.”
Violet weaves an illusion of what we can hear in the conference room.
“What did she mean health mana pots?” The Viscount is growing visibly irate.
“This is the first I have heard of her having such.” Sir Ujan.
Isabella remains silent, Gregory does not, “The reason I was in the dungeon for a week was because I drank the [Priestess] new potion, it both healed my hand and restored my reserves I had spent earlier practicing dirt magic.”
Viscount Xavious looks at Sir Ujan, “Is this true?”
“I already said I have yet to hear anything on this. Isabella?”
“It doesn't matter, she has no way of procuring the materials necessary for creating more. It is a mute point.”
I give a wry grin to Violet. She just gives me a look that says go ahead. Two boxes of cloud berry appear on the table, another two boxes of creeping vines and six bottles of potion with a note.
“Lea go distribute a potion to each of our current guests and encourage them to leave. Physically if they don't want to.”
“O that sounds like fun, I'll go too.” Mags walks next to Lea and they disappear.
“Is she listening to us?” Peter finally croaks out.
“Of course, she is listen’. She's the bloody dungeon.” Hecnae snatches the note, “Parting gift to the last day of the dungeon, one free health mana pot. Thank your local knights.”
Sir Ujan rushes to the exit. The door doesn't open. “Lady Magdeline, I know you can hear me. What are you doing?”
A new note flutters down onto Hecnae.
“I ain’ your messenger.” The others look at her, she sighs and reads, “Due to the expulsion of all current adventurers, it's best to wait till they clear out before allowing you to leave. For your safety, of course.”
“My ass, you aim to let them spread word of the closing of the dungeon and loss of profit. You want to cause a riot.” Viscount Xavious is rather heated.
I might be losing my job today. Quitting as a dungeon and being fired from being an attendant. What a day.
“Damn it, what is even the purpose of these boxes?” Sir Ujan knocks one of said boxes to the floor.
Isabella is pale but speaks, “I believe she was demonstrating she was able to produce the materials necessary for the potions. It is more than I gave her initially.”
“So you’re telling me, in no uncertain terms, that we just pissed off a potential war asset of the Queendom. I saw the pro and con of this decision before Ujan. This is the worst case scenario. You stated the loss of mithril was minimal since it proved too hard to work, silk being a luxury good is not even a consideration but now you're telling me she has mana restoratives and you just convinced her not to cooperate with us.” The viscount says slowly.
“This is the first I've heard of this.” Sir Ujan practically roared out.
