[Entity in core room (willow tree) has gained the requisite energy to spawn a dryad. Warning: Dungeon will not fully control Dryad, but Dryad will be bound to do no harm to the dungeon or core. Permit the spawning of a Dryad? (Y/N)]

  That stopped Matthias in his tracks. His train of thought completely derailed as he read the message three times.

  "This seems like it would only be a good thing," Matthias noted.

  "It is a mixed bag," Lucy admitted. "Dryads don't have to defend the dungeon, but they also can't harm it. However, they can use any tree in your dungeon as a portal anchor to move people, monsters, or objects around."

  "Dryads are as reliable as the relationship you build with them," Chloe sighed.

  "So she could bring people here to talk to me?" he asked.

  Both fairies froze.

  "Technically," Lucy allowed. "But why would you want that? Why would you want them here?"

  "Because here and the swamp are two completely different flavors of what my dungeon is," Matthias replied. "And because you can't have a relationship without communication." With that, he mentally hammered in his acceptance.

  There was a loud crack as the trunk of the willow split open. Sap ran as the form of a woman fell out of the new opening. Then, as quickly as the hole had formed, it closed. To Matthias' surprise, he could interact with the space around the woman, so he gently dissolved the sap clinging to her form before wrapping her body in a silk toga.

  The woman was about six feet tall with alabaster skin. Instead of hair, long black vines cascaded down her back. Her eyes were a deep purple that matched both Matthias' core and the blooms of the willow.

  The dryad slowly rose to her feet, legs wobbling as she found her balance. A rather emotive bunny hopped up and placed a paw on her leg for moral support. The dryad began to chuckle and then laugh as she straightened to her full height. It was not a cruel laugh, but one of joy and relief.

  "I—I live," she whispered. "I—I can finally speak."

  "Welcome, I guess," Matthias said. "I mean, is there a difference between a dryad and her tree? Is it a single mind or two?"

  "For the sake of simplicity, count us as one and the same," she chuckled. "And there is much I have wanted to say." With that, she took a knee and bowed her head. "Thank you, Dungeon Matthias, for giving me life. Thank you for giving me form. Thank you for bathing me from top to bottom in your mana. Thank you for trusting me to hold and protect your core."

  "You don't need to bow or kneel," Matthias said softly. "I do not intend to force servitude or obedience. You are your own entity. You are free to voice your opinions, and I encourage it. Communication and trust only truly form when two individuals can be honest."

  The dryad looked up at where his core rested and beamed. "You truly are a kind soul," she replied as she rose to her feet. "But I remember everything from the moment of my tree's creation up to my birth. I have seen every image imposed upon your core. I have felt your joys and sorrows. I serve because I want to, because I think you are worth serving."

  If Matthias could blush, he would have. Chloe and Lucy were huffing, arms crossed, while sitting on the rim of the branch bowl that cradled his core.

  That was when something else caught his attention—a voice at the edge of his swamp.

  "Dungeon, I am Alycia De'Falgar. I am the guild master of the Adventurer's Guild," the kitsune declared in a clear voice. Matthias froze. It was the first time he had heard the voice of anyone inside his dungeon. "I have come to speak, if you would permit it."

  "Shall I bring her here?" the dryad asked.

  "Before that, do you have a name?" Matthias asked.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "No," the dryad replied neutrally.

  "Can I name you Serenia?" he asked.

  "I—I think I quite like that name," Serenia said, smiling.

  "Then, Serenia, if you could bring Lady De'Falgar here, I would greatly appreciate it," Matthias said.

  Without another word, Serenia stepped into her willow tree and vanished.

  ---

  Alycia was just about to turn away when she saw the pale dryad emerge from one of the nearby trees. Her jaw dropped in shock.

  "Lady De'Falgar, the dungeon has heard your plea and has agreed to a meeting," the dryad said. "I am Serenia, first dryad of this dungeon. I have come to ferry you to the core room so that you may speak with the dungeon." She offered Alycia her hand.

  "What is the dungeon like?" Alycia asked.

  "Conflicted, in pain, mourning, but driven," Serenia answered, her hand still extended. "He is keen to open a dialogue."

  After a moment's hesitation, Alycia reached out and took Serenia's hand. Together, they slipped into the tree.

  The next thing Alycia knew, she was standing beneath a massive willow in a cavern illuminated by countless glowing flowers. The sight stole her breath away. She could only gape at the vast garden stretching out before her until Serenia's soft giggle broke her trance.

  "It is a lot to take in, isn't it?" Serenia said. "Come, there is a bench by my trunk where you can rest."

  "Your trunk?" Alycia asked, finally turning to truly look at the tree. Pale bark, black leaves, and softly glowing violet blooms towered above her. "Oh."

  "Would you like something to drink?" a male voice asked, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Sweet? Bitter? Something with a kick?"

  "I—I think I could use a pick-me-up," Alycia admitted.

  Small tables rose from the ground beside the bench—one for Alycia, one for Serenia. Serenia clapped excitedly as a steaming cup appeared before her, its scent both bitter and sweet.

  "Then perhaps this will do."

  Alycia realized she was hearing the dungeon speak.

  After watching Serenia sip her drink, Alycia followed suit. The flavor was unlike anything she had ever tasted.

  "I would sell my soul for a lifetime supply of this," she blurted out.

  The dungeon laughed. "I won't take you up on that. It is a mix of hot chocolate—a drink meant to warm you on a cold day—and coffee, a drink meant to help you focus."

  "I have never heard of either," Alycia admitted.

  "Then I will need to update my loot tables," the dungeon mused. "Both come from bitter beans, by the way. Chocolate is bitter by default but is usually processed with cream and sugar. Maybe I should add bees to the swamp for a renewable source of honey."

  "Honey hunting is a popular profession," Alycia noted.

  "But I am guessing you are not here to talk about my loot," the dungeon said.

  Alycia sighed, taking another sip before answering. "Indeed. I am here because I am conflicted. You seemed like a good place for new delvers to begin, but once your boss died, you frightened everyone. I was worried that killing a named monster might have made you hostile toward us."

  There was a long pause. Alycia noticed her cup refill itself and took that as a good sign.

  "I believe there was miscommunication and fault on both sides," the dungeon finally said. "I misunderstood the limits of my power, and in my shock, I may have overreacted to the greed of the party."

  "Greed?" Alycia asked.

  "The porcupine and the twins were moving toward the eggs my boss had laid," the dungeon replied. "I acted rashly. I was mourning, in shock, and all they could think about was what they could take."

  "To be fair, they had no idea," Alycia said gently. "They were not adventurers. The porcupine man was Hank of the Alchemists' Guild. The twins represented the Thieves' and Assassins' Guilds."

  "Ah," the dungeon replied flatly. "So it is commonplace to slaughter a parent and then steal the children?"

  Alycia winced.

  "That came out colder than I intended," the dungeon said. "I am… tired. Once the eggs hatch, I will promote one of them to be the new boss."

  "Is the swamp your entire dungeon?" Alycia asked.

  "No. It is only the first floor—the first crucible."

  "Crucible?" Alycia echoed.

  "I am filling the swamp with low-ranking monsters," the dungeon explained. "Letting them breed and adapt. Once a species grows too strong, I move it down a floor to maintain balance."

  "So the swamp will remain consistent," Alycia said slowly, "but each floor below will be more competitive?"

  "Exactly. I will only name those I believe will endure to the bottom."

  "And how deep is your dungeon?"

  "Deep enough that I am not worried about anyone reaching the end anytime soon. I invited you here to clear the air."

  Alycia nodded.

  "I will not single anyone out," Matthias continued. "My dungeon is meant to be a crucible—challenging, but fair."

  "That is more than I hoped for," Alycia said. "Most dungeons are death traps. Having a place for recruits is invaluable."

  "One or two veterans per group," Matthias suggested. "And I will tone down the toxic mushrooms now that the leeches are gone."

  "Leeches?"

  "They were here when I arrived. The turtles remain," he added. "They keep evolving and are some of the most dangerous creatures I have."

  Alycia laughed. "Turtles endure."

  "They also make good bowls and soup," Matthias replied dryly.

  She laughed again.

  "My name is Matthias," the dungeon said at last. "I look forward to working with you, Alycia De'Falgar."

  "And I with you," she replied. "I am sorry for your loss."

  "Thank you for coming," Matthias said. Two large bags appeared before her, labeled Coffee Beans and Cocoa Beans. "May our relations be long and fruitful."