Tyler showed up to work the next morning at 5 AM with a box truck rather than his usual jeep. This probably isn't good.

  Nola opened the gate for him and closed it right after. I barely saw the brown vines snake back under the dirt after she was done. If I didn't have an awareness of everything in my dungeon I probably would have missed that.

  I should experiment with the awareness more. I have mostly been suppressing it so I can focus on people and walking without tripping. But Nola had been growing and I have not done anything with that.

  I spread out my mind to see if I could touch the whole area at once. Whatever magic bonded the two of us definitely kicked in at that point. Felt like I licked a AAA battery, and then the borders materialized in all directions.

  Nola was a lot bigger

  Gone was the little softball sized gem. Under the flower there was a core the size of a residential trashcan. It has been less than a week and we are seeing 1000% growth! It has to slow down by now though, we have to be hitting some sort of cap on just matter absorption. I will have to ask Nola about it later. Focus on your domain

  I reached out to the ground around me. Now that's interesting..

  The dungeon wasn't all of the area around us. Yes, the ground inside the yard was, so was all the ground about 6 inches below the yard, with the exception of these strange trails running around the property.

  Then graboid! That's how he gets around. He can't leave the dungeon and he's too thick to get most places. Looks like he doesn't have too many trails right now. A few leading from Nola to his nest, a trail leading to the fence line and a ring all the way around. Perimeter defense. Nice.

  Everything else not in the trails or the first layer of dirt felt like foreign territory. Except below the flower. The dungeon was about 3 stories deep there. I guess Nola is expecting another growth spurt. Either that or there's some claustrophobia.

  There is a lot of mycelium in that dirt. Mushroom roots basically. Why do I know that? Probably residual knowledge from Nola. All branching out from the core.

  I promised Nola a garden didn't I. I will have Ty run and get some plants from the home improvement store at the break. She probably hates the industrial nature this place. All the drivers killed her plants driving off the path yesterday. She got plenty of energy for it, but that doesn't change the fact that I made a nature dungeon a concrete pad to call home. Gotta work on that.

  I reached out further to the walls. The 'walls' were not actually part of the dungeon. The air on the inside edge was technically part of our territory, but the rusted metal wasn't ours yet. I wonder if that's an efficiency choice or an affinity one? I think the gate is ours. I will check that out in a little while. I want to see how the vines work.

  Speaking of air, the dungeon stops in the air too. About 11 feet off the ground our territory ends. Interesting. So claiming new space in any direction requires energy. No free air space with the purchase of new land. I wonder if someone has to be completely inside to count as a delver?

  Buddy was still in the chemical shed. Still in a coma. I had given him another potion before bed last night, but his condition is not improving. He glowed a little bit in my sense sight. And he felt a lot different than everything around him. His lifeforce was pressing against everything around him. The dungeon was pressing back against him. The interaction of the forces was constant and flowing in fractal patterns I could barely comprehend, even with my expanded mind.

  Tyler, now through the gate and driving towards the back, felt different. Brighter, for one. And far more violently pushing back on the dungeon. Probably because he was moving and acting. And singing? He is singing along to the radio inside the truck. Katy Perry. Never would have thought he was the type. If anything I would have guessed talk radio.

  Woah. The truck. The truck felt like void. I couldn't feel it at all. The wheels on the ground, the air against the body; sure. But the truck wasn't there.

  "So Buddy's armor?"

  Magic respects property rights. Alrighty then.

  Tyler waved to me as he drove by. I waved back. He doesn't seem to be bothered by me not getting up to greet him. He is moving with purpose.

  Tyler pulled up to the pit rather than his spot near the back of the lot, I knew he brought a box van for a reason. He has some stuff to drop off. I wonder if he had some garbage at home.

  Yeah. He's almost certainly got something illegal or dangerous, or both.

  No, its probably good to have whatever he gives you. I should probably get a copy of the pistol he gave you too. Just in case. I am just not super sure about guns. I've never shot one.

  Tyler reached into the van and pulled out... some sort of void thing... and threw it into the pit. I felt the air whip around it, the pressure as it bounced off the concrete. And then, as Ty turned to pull out the next void the void in the pit became known.

  34.17 pounds. Metal and gunpowder. A metal ammo can full of 30-06 Springfield ammo. 500 rounds. Abandoned in a dungeon. Ours to absorb. I wanted it.

  "Is that what all the garbage feels like?... it.. I really want it." I said to Nola. I tried to pull back from the sensation. I couldn't do it without also backing out of my awareness of the dungeon.

  The ammo can sunk right through the concrete. Nola didn't bother with the fake ramps and processing plant around Tyler since he already knew. As it was absorbed I learned about the new thing we had just taken in. Every crimp and fold in the metal. Every scratch and scuff in the paint. The chemical composition of every molecule in the can. I need to get out of here or my brain will explode.

  I pushed my way out of my awareness. The lights were extra bright and my head was ringing. Too much. I can't imagine what its like to take a dump trucks worth at once.

  "Nola, I like learning too, but that... that is not the type of learning I am used to" I had to lean over and put my hands on my knees. Dizziness was starting to set in.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  If I had eaten I probably would have thrown up. As it stood I remained standing, but swayed a little on my feet.

  Gonna take a beat and recover from that.

  After a period of time I came back to myself enough to walk over to Tyler. He was still unloading, so it couldn't have been that long. I hadn't finished my tour of the dungeon, but I had enough for the day. Plus I wanted to see what he was up to.

  "Hey Tyler" I called out to him as I walked around to the back of his van. Looks like he is almost empty.

  "Hey Roy. Have fun in your Intellectus?" He asked as he threw an overstuffed duffle bag full of who knows what into the pit. Well, I guess I could know what. But I am not ready for that again so soon.

  No. But I think he would like to be.

  "What is an intellectus?"

  "Connection to your domain. You looked like you were a thousand miles away but you still waved at me when I came in. Without looking at me. You never hit me as the drug type, so, intellectus."

  "Do you have any books on that? I think I would like to know more." Maybe something he had could shed some useful light on my situation.

  "Nothing too useful. Mostly fiction, but I will bring you and Nola what I have tomorrow." He pulled the last item out of the van, looked like a briefcase. He underhand tossed it into the pit and closed one of the doors. "Speaking of fiction. Yesterday you told me Nola picked what she was called based on your memories of fantasy books. I would like to get a copy of those for research purposes. Next time you head home can you pick me up a copy of what she used."

  Go nuts, I don't think anyone even went back to that part of the yard yesterday. We will be fine. I turned back to Ty

  "She's got them already. I will have Nola make you a copy of each." I looked back to the empty pit "Do you want your stuff back?"

  "Eventually. And with interest. But for now, I will just be happy to have Nola learn some new things. Gotta be ready for the dark ones to invade." He said with a completely straight face.

  I looked at my phone, not yet opening time. I have a few minuets to talk to Charlie and thank him before we got busy. Maybe even convince him we are a legit business. Not likely, but a guy can dream.

  "Ty, we may have to cut this short. Pull your car to the spot in the back and look busy. I have to go talk to Chopper and thank him for all his good work on the referrals."

  "You the boss boss." He saluted me with the wrong hand and jogged back to the drivers side of his van.

  I jogged back to front gate ready to talk shop with another industry professional. When I got to the gate I realized that was not what was about to happen.

  Nola and I met two people that day. Chopper, and my apparently not as silent as I would like him to be partner, Melvin.

  Damn it.

  I paid the guy at the bank. Why is he here? I very clearly remember the contract saying 'silent partner'. I'm no business genius but I feel like that means he shouldn't be banging down my gate on day 3

  Nevermind. Put on a happy face and get rid of him. We have 15 min until people start showing up. Probably less.

  Nola, can you print me a grand real quick. I whispered silently through our mental connection. A bribe couldn't hurt to have on hand.

  "Richard open up you lying bastard! You owe me an explanation!"

  I pulled open the recently repaired door with considerably less effort than we would have needed just a few days ago when I bought the place. As it opened all of my good will fell away. This dick. He scammed me out of far more than this place is worth and now he's back? Screw this guy.

  "It's Roy, not Richard. You haven't gotten it right since we have been 'partners' Melvin. And I think I member you signing up to be a silent one of those." I looked out the gate past Melvin, there were already two cars present. And multiple tourists. Shit. I need to get out of the public eye. "But why don't you come inside like the burden you are" I gestured inside with a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

  Melvin pushed past me, bumping his shoulder into me purposefully. Its a good thing I am not carrying that gun.

  "Well then, Roy" he said, drawing out every letter of my name, "What the hell is that thing?"

  "The processing plant." I said curtly. "Any other stupid questions"

  "No more questions, just a demand as part owner of this little miracle. I want the patent number and technical documents for Our machine. I think there will be many interested buyers. A rube drop out like you just isn't smart enough to handle the complex stuff, so I will be taking that on."

  And you've read them already? Oh what am I saying, you read them as you absorbed them.

  I cleared my throat and straightened up to face Melvin.

  "What do you have joint ownership in Melvin? The land and the equipment are not the same thing." I don't know where this is going but I am ready to try it.

  "The processing plant. I sold you the land so you could open a processing plant." Fear. Love to see it. Lets push.

  "You sold me the land and licenses. You are owed a profit percentage from anything we do here. That's true. There's nothing about equipment."

  "The equipment is leased you knob. For a buck. Handshake deal with my backers. So you can have your 10% of the profits. I'll get you a dime at the end of business today. Would you like cash or check?" This is fun.

  "There is no patent. There is no IP. And no profits for you to steal. Just losses from here to next year. At which time I will buy you out and kick you out of my life for good."

  Oh that brought me back down fast. How was that bad?

  To many people saw him enter. Can you give him a heart attack?

  Unfortunately not

  "You think you are so smart doing some first year law student bullshit?" Melvin was cherry red. If he knew how bad I had messed up, he wasn't letting on. He was just angry. "I work for a major investing company. We have real lawyers, not whatever hack told you to pull the stunt you just did."

  "I am coming after you now. I am getting my portion of that machine Roy. And I will take my payment for that lease in check. Along with the lease paperwork. End of business today" He turned to walk away and pulled on the gate. I think he was expecting the old gate, because the swing took him off his feet. "And you will be hearing from my lawyer for an unsafe worksite"

  One of the tourists from yesterday poked his head in to look at me as Melvin left. He gave me a pitying look, but didn't say anything thankfully.

  I could hear Melvin speeding away in some too loud foreign sport car. Press person and lawyer. I am gonna need a lot of staff here pretty quickly.

  Thanks Nola, exactly what I want to hear to start the day.