[Floor] 52 was the same as it had been the first time they passed through it. A series of clues lead the pair to dig up chests in each chamber.

  “I won’t trigger the Dirt Constructs this time,” Thesa promised. The memory of her previous, anxiety-fueled mistakes nagged at her.

  “No, you will,” Merijest said, “You need to train your Level.” Her tone was firm and something stirred in Thesa’s chest as she realized Merijest was in charge again.

  Without a misstep, Thesa triggered every Dirt Construct the [Floor] had to offer.

  Merijest was right. While stealth was first on their priority list, boosting Thesa's Level was second. No more taking experience as it came.

  [Floor] 50 looked almost the same, but the site of their encounter with the Knights was spotless.

  Yagaba was hesitant to even enter the [Floor]. Thesa held the Nest-Walker's box-torso like a wooden baby.

  “Did you–” Thesa started to say.

  “Kelreyn…delivered them…” Merijest said, forcing the words out.

  Thesa leaned against the closest wall and slid to the floor. Yagaba creaked sympathetically. Merijest remained standing.

  “I–” Thesa started, unable to complete the thought. She looked at her own hands.

  “We are going to save them too.” Merijest crouched and sat beside her [Witch]. Detecting the guilt Thesa was feeling for her prior involvement with the Knights, she continued, “you are repaying your debt. You didn't know any better.”

  “Do they know better?” Thesa asked. “Do they know what they are a part of?” Her breathing quickened.

  Merijest sighed. “It's not just that you didn't know. It’s that when you had the chance to learn, you took it at great personal cost. Not everyone is willing to rethink their whole life and value system. Honestly, it's a miracle you listened to me at all.”

  Merijest put a hand on Thesa's shoulder and continued. “Most of the time, people are resistant to changing their minds. It takes time. Usually it also relies on someone's social circle being destabilized alongside the establishment of new social circles that offer stability with different value systems. It’s not the only way it happens, but anything else is uncommon.”

  Before Thesa could point out that her social circle was pretty destabilized by the whole dying thing, Merijest reminded her, “you gave me a chance before you died. When you stood to gain everything from continuing without doubt.”

  “You changed your mind,” Thesa said, momentarily meeting Merijest's gaze.

  “Well, I was never a follower of Beautuk and I didn't really have an established social identity to threaten. My only friend was my cat and she didn’t really have opinions about the shape of the world as a whole. Not to mention Beautuk forced my hand when he [Blessed] me to become a demoness,” Merijest replied.

  “I guess he forced both of our hands in a way,” Thesa said. Her heart still beat quickly, but she felt strangely calm. “I know we need to sneak by them, but when I do come face to face with any of the Knights again, I want to give them another chance before we fight.”

  Merijest stood up. “I wish I shared your optimism,” she said.

  “Not optimism. Call it a responsibility and a calling,” Thesa said as Merijest helped her up.

  ***

  In a menagerie on [Floor] 48, a pair of [Rogues] (a rat-folk and a halfling) slipped unnoticed past a flock of Skin Geese. Crouched amid flowers they’d never seen before, the [Rogues] had a singular mission in the [Dungeon].

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  On the other side of the menagerie, Thesa, Merijest and Yabba hid behind a thicket of trees, playing amid strange flowers. Among the flora Yabba circled and stared at the Grackle Lilies which had somehow spread to this [Floor].

  “Should we fight them?” Merijest [Messaged].

  “After I try talking to them?” Thesa replied.

  “Sure,” Merijest sent back. “We can confront them first. I don't have a lot of hope for [Rogues] who think they can just slip their way to the bottom of a [Dungeon]. Difficult to trust, but I won't stop you.”

  “They might be powerful,” Thesa replied.

  “Any [Rogue] so easily spotted is…not very powerful.” Merijest shrugged.

  ***

  ***

  As the [Rogues] approached the stairway to the next level, Merijest called to them. “Looking for something?”

  Having been made, the rat-folk spun around, hands up and the halfling darted to the side, only to stumble over the little Nest Walker in their way. As Merijest had suspected: impulsive, low-Level [Rogues] whose only chance of success was the benefit of surprise.

  “Who, us?” The rat-folk said.

  The halfling joined in, “pl-pleasure to meet your acquaintance, uh– madam. What can we do for you?”

  Confused, Thesa asked, “you don’t know who she is?”

  The halfling backed their way over to the rat-folk and elbowed their compatriot.

  The rat-folk said, “F-f-forgive us, madam, are you the [Core] of this here [Dungeon]? We–we thought this was one of those uh– [Dungeon] mimic thingies! See we, um, we are just after some gold and– and–”

  Thesa and Merijest looked at each other.

  The halfling took over, “–and we didn't mean to take from anybody! Right Grilby?”

  Grilby the rat-folk shook their head way too fast and said, “course not! We would never want to inconvenience a fine lady as yourself.”

  The pair finally paused long enough for Thesa to get in another word. “Are you here on behalf of Beautuk or the Convent?” she asked.

  “Wh-what Convent?” Grilby replied. “I never heard of a Convent, did you hear something about a Convent, Thistle?”

  “Me? No, never,” Thistle the halfling answered. “We’re not from around here.”

  “What do you think?” Thesa looked up at Merijest again.

  “I think they're lying. But I also think if they're willing to trade us some information, I might be persuaded to allow them the privilege of turning around and leaving.”

  Thistle and Grilby looked at one another making increasingly strange facial expressions until they simultaneously fell on their feet groveling.

  “Oh thank you, Lady Merijest,” Grilby cried.

  “Your forgiveness is boundless,” Thistle added.

  “It's really not,” Merijest corrected. “So tell me what you know and get lost.”

  “Y-y-yes, madam!” Grilby replied. “Just thought we could be the first to get the bounty on your head, madam.”

  “It's nothing personal, of course, my lady,” Thistle interjected. “We just work for the pay, madam.”

  “Are there other adventurers descending the [Dungeon]?” Thesa asked.

  “Oh I should say so,” Thistle said. Then realizing their peppy tone, went on with exaggerated dismay, “You see, my lady, the bounty is simply enormous. Enough to change the life of any young rat-folk or halfling.”

  Grilby joined Thistle in a dramatic pose, leaned back with hands at their foreheads as if ready to faint.

  “Good to know,” Merijest nodded. “Now go!”

  Thistle and Grilby did something between a nod and a bow. They repeated the move a dozen times each before zipping off, back toward the surface.

  “I didn't even get to ask them to join us,” Thesa sighed.

  “Sorry, kitten,” Merijest said, ruffling Thesa's hair. “Hopefully they scare away some of the other adventurers on their way up, but I doubt it. You'll have plenty of chances to recruit.”

  From there, the demoness swiftly befriended the Skin Geese, making them each a [Familiar]. The flock had eggs to guard, so they remained on [Floor] 48. Merijest hoped she could find more [Familiars] to join the party soon. They would need more strength in numbers to avoid a repeat of [Floor] 50.

  I hope the Skin Geese were worth the wait. They have human skin!

  ***

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