Naomi shows up an hour after dinner. This time in her yellow sundress. A tent for the gathering was partially opened for everyone to hear things that would be discussed. She got a seat in the center where the King and Grand Priest were sitting. Around them were sitting the most important people of the clan. Between them were walking kids with bowls full of fresh fruits from the orchard. Sun elves had warrior culture, and even teenagers carried short swords or long knives.

  "Welcome, Dungeon Mistress, to our gathering." King Aiduine welcomed her officially.

  "Thank you, King of Sun Elves, for this opportunity to talk with you and with you, the Grand Priest. I also must say that I'm a little surprised at how this meeting is organized. Usually, that kind of meeting is more or less private."

  "It's true. It’s my oversight. If you, Dungeon Mistress, wish to speak privately, we can change the arrangement of the meeting or discuss your topics later."

  "It’s not needed." Naomi shakes her head. "Things I want to share shall be known to everyone. They are just addressed mostly to the Grand Priest as your god's guide and senior healer. And I must say I’m positively surprised by your arrangements. Is there a way for those gathered to voice their opinion about mattresses discussed in that kind of gathering?"

  "There is. However, the final decision is mine or Grand Priest's. Sometimes, both of us."

  "Then I’m very pleased by that. I believe that a ruler should hear the voice of his people."

  "And that’s why we do that." Agree Grand Priest.

  "Yes," King said. "I propose that you will start, my lady. My questions could need some negotiations, and if I correctly understood, you have some news for us."

  "You can say that, sir. I agree with that arrangement." Naomi nodded. The first thing is a task given to me by the god of healers and god of death." In the back, faint whispers rang out. Tasks from gods were always big things, and this woman was the god's envoy. "On this scroll." She gives the Grand Priest quite a big scroll. "I write all my knowledge about new healing techniques that can save people's lives."

  "I will read it very carefully. Can you give me a summary?"

  "Yes. As you know, sometimes, despite obvious signs of someone's death, when closely examined, you can feel that there is still a spark of life in the victim's body. Through this technique in this scroll, you can learn how to reignite it anew. However, I’m not a healer, so you will need to refine it." Naomi explained.

  The grand priest was shocked. It was huge news. He in his life encounters many times that kind of situation but never was able to do anything.

  "I don’t want to be disrespectful to gods and you, Dungeon Mistress, but do you try it?"

  "Yes. That was the reason I was given a task by the gods. Two weeks ago, there was a tribe that visited me. There was a situation where one woman almost died. She stopped breathing, and her heart stopped. We rescued her. When she was leaving my oasis, she was in full health again."

  "Thank you, Dungeon Mistress." He bowed. "I promise to read and try to refine it immediately."

  "I also thank you," King said. "I just understand the basics of what was said, but it should save many lives. Can I ask what happened with the mentioned tribe?"

  "They left my oasis a week ago, and they are heading to the Citadel of The Light because they were given the same task. Why are you asking, sir?"

  "I will send a small team to guard them, my lady."

  "I approve." Nod Grand Priest. "Before they are long road. They should have capable warriors, but this task is too important. They need to reach the citadel safely."

  "Quildor, take five people with you. Try to reach them as fast as possible. You must strengthen their guards."

  "We will reach them in ten to twelve days. And any lowlife training to stop them will die a slow and painful death."

  Naomi wanted to protest about torturing bandits, but then she remembered all those kids from the tribe. She clenched her teeth and then said.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  "Sir Quildor, please convey my greetings to the chief and shaman and say that I’m sorry for your unexpected appearance, but their task is important, and better be safe than sorry. I think this message should ease their fears and help you, sir, with your task."

  "Thank you, Dungeon Mistress." He bowed. "I will convey your message." He immediately exited the tent to make preparations.

  "What about the second scroll." Asked the Grand Priest when commotion and talks stopped.

  "This one is a little simpler." Said Naomi. You at least don’t need to send anyone because it is on its way to the citadel for two months." She gives him a scroll. The Grand Priest unfolded it, and his eyes went wide. It was a prophecy. He read words carefully to catch the right, direct meaning. When he reaches the end, he sighs in relief.

  "Grand Priest, what happened?" Asked King.

  "It is prophecy, my king." He said and gave the scroll to the king. "Thankfully, it’s nothing major." He raises his voice so that everyone will hear him. "It’s a warning about not following the god's teaching and about greed."

  "In essence, it is," Naomi confirms. "What was said to me by a priestess who was traveling with a caravan, exact meaning will be confirmed by the archpriest in the Citadel of the Light."

  "Yes, they will do that." Nod elf. "Tomorrow, I will show this scroll to everyone to read." He said aloud.

  "Ayda," King speaks to one of the girls serving fruits. "Find Quildor, and tell him about prophecy. When he will reach the citadel, he needs to confirm that it reached there."

  "At once." The girl answered and swiftly ran away.

  "I assume that it’s all that you, Dungeon Mistress, needed to share with us?" Asked King.

  "It is, sir. I'm sorry for disrupting the order of this meeting and for the eventual change of your plans for the future."

  "It happens sometimes, and that is the purpose of meetings." Said king. "Your news answered most of our questions. However, there are still two things I need to mention. The first thing I want to say is that it was decided that your final floor is off-limits. The second thing is the question if you, Dungeon Mistress, have some special wishes for our venturing through your first floor. We want to stay for a few days and use your traps for training our young warriors."

  "I thank you for your decision about my final floor, sir," Naomi answered "And about exploring and training on my first floor, I don’t have any special condition about that. I only want to say that my wish is to be a place where people train and learn not to die. Especially young and promising ones."

  "We will arrange our terms according to that." King nod.

  "Your Highness, I have a question." Asked Naomi suddenly. However, I think it would be a sensitive topic for you and sun elves in general."

  "Please, ask," King answered after a moment of thinking. "I can’t guarantee to answer your question if it will be indeed something we keep for ourselves."

  "Understood, and once again, I’m sorry in advance. Sir, before our meeting, I managed to find a scroll about spirit summoning. There was only basic information, and I didn't have the time or knowledge to understand it properly. However, it was written that demon summoners somehow managed to twist and taint this ritual. Is it true?"

  "It is the greatest shame and falling of sun elves," King answered, no longer proud and regal after some time battling with his thoughts. Around them, the mood becomes gloomy. No one wants to eat fruits anymore. It happened a century ago when I was a child. I will not tell you details about what happened, but since that day, we have never regained our former glory."

  "I’m sorry for asking." Naomi bowed respectfully." However, before we end this meeting, I want to tell you that I have a proposition for you, my King, and sun elves in general."

  "Yes, my lady?" Aiduin was surprised.

  "If my assumption is correct, your earlier question to venture to my final floor was to see if there is a chance to find suitable animals for warriors without companions."

  "Yes, my lady. However, those animals are unsuitable to live in the desert."

  "Yes. Well, maybe some spiders will be suitable, but they are out of reach. What if I dedicate one of my floors entirely to desert creatures? Adventurers are on their way. One month at best, and they will start exploring my halls daily, and then I will have resources to build more floors. Sun elves are warriors, so I think the third or fourth floor should be appropriate to prove the candidate's skill before he or she tries to find their spirit companion."

  The king was speechless, why did the Dungeon Mistress propose something like that? Then he found the answer. Sun elves were rulers of the desert, and it was they who defended it against any threat. And if she can make it an alliance, even if not official, she will be much more safe.

  "According to the law, no one can tell you, my lady, how your floors should be arranged however, if you do that, I will be obliged to repay you. What will be your price if something like that happens?" Everyone present held their breath.

  "Nothing, my king." She answered without hesitation. "And I want to cut any speculation. I don't do it because I pity you. I have a blessing from The Lady that allows me to feel the emotions and thoughts of animals. And what I felt from the king's spirit was happiness, pride, and contentment. And animals, real ones or spirit ones, don’t lie. If you are a good person, they will say you are a good person. If you are bad, they will say you are bad. Because of that, to show my gratitude, I want to help."

  "I, Aiduin, king of the sun elves, accepted your proposal," King said after a few minutes of thinking. Immediately, the mood stops being gloomy. Now, the elves were full of hope. It will take some time before the Dungeon Mistress will be able to fulfill her promise. But for elves, one or two years is nothing. Even a decade can fade in the blink of an eye.