8-24: The Truth Of The Dungeon

The dungeon was calm, the occasional small creature made Veronica breathe a sigh of relief as it meant that there was something around. After just a few extra floors, she reached floor twenty four. The highest reached floor. And there was naught a creature, nor boss in sight.

"It feels undeserved... Did I just get lucky with this delve, is the dungeon broken? Can it break?" Veronica muttered to herself as Lilith followed a few paces behind.

And as unfullfilling as it was, she continued on to the twenty fifth floor, now officially the one and only person who has gotten this far in. Without a single creature being a threat. And not fighting a single boss. The floor seemed like that of a manor, but well-kept and lived in.

"It's about time you showed. I've been waiting for... probably nine months now." A woman spoke, concealed by a corner.

Lilith took the time to hide herself as Veronica cautiously peeked around.

The woman was sitting patiently at a small table drinking from a small tea cup. She had familiar horns and a tail, similar to Veronica's own. The woman was a Hakano.

"How peculiar. So you're truly a Hakano... How have you avoided Amaranth's hunts, little one?" She asked, motioning towads a chair on the opposite side of the table.

"I... haven't? I am, or was... human." Veronica answered, hesitantly sitting down.

"You mean to tell me that someone, who happens to be a Hakano, and knows the ritual, is still alive."

"Well... hmm... alive is a strong word. Who are you, anyways?"

"Pardon me. I'm Hekna, resident and owner of this dungeon, and part time necromancer and conjuerer." She introduced herself.

"You... own this dungeon?"

"Indeed, girl. My sister made these dungeons for us, after Amaranth's betrayal. A place where she cannot reach."

"I see. So... these dungeons aren't for explorers, but rather for safety."

"Yes. This dungeon initially started as a five floor home. The first was simply to get rid if intruders. However, as they got stronger, I grew the dungeon, making it more and more difficult. Turns out, no one learned."

"How big is it currently?"

"My personal residence, which is this floor, is actually the... seventy fifth floor I believe. I only bumped it up here, to have a better chance at speaking to you."

"And all dungeons are like this?"

"Depends on my sisters. I haven't even seen them in... probably eons. I've lost track as to how long it's been since. Though, I'm unsure about Lil's dungeon."

Lilith then came out of hiding, her face was of confusion and shock, as if she was hearing something unbelievable. Hekna and Lilith locked eyes. Hekna's jaw dropped.

"Mom?" She spoke quietly, rubbing her eyes, believing it to be an illusion.

"Hekna... I thought..." Lilith floated over to Hekna and tried to embrace her, only to phase through her.

"Uh..." Veronica was speechless.

"Mom? What... I don't understand..." Hekna said, breaking her calm demeanor and suddenly breaking down. "You're dead... they all said you were... that you..."

Veronica stayed silent, not wanting to interrupt what was happening.

"I am. Thanks to Veronica here, I have... some life. I'm conscious, free thinking, just not as corporeal as I wish to be right now." Lilith responded, trying calm her daughter who desperately wanted her mother's embrace.

"It's been... I can't... How..." Hekna has clearly broke from seeing her mother again.

After what felt like an hour waiting for everything to calm down, Hekna was finally able to converse with Lilith.

"So, Amaranth's magic to control humans put your soul into this girl, which caused her body to change, then, through some miracle, you were able to perform the ritual on her just a few weeks ago?" Hekna listed, drying her eyes.

"Correct. And, we're hoping to find and kill her."

"Hm... I think I can help, then. Just need to leave this place for the first time in hundreds, if not thousands of years."

"How have not gone crazy?" Veronjca asked as she got up, ready to leave the dungeon.

"Necromancy. And the occasional creation of puts. You really put Nara on the edge there."

"Nara?"

"Yes, my pet chimera."

"What's a chimera?"

"That lion creature you fought a while back."

"That? Wait, you saw that? Then why were you surprised when—"

"I can sense what happens in the dungeon. Who kills what, how many, and where, but not exactly what they look like. Anyways, let us leave. I'm quite excited to see the sun again, the real sun." Hekna said, getting up from her chair.

"So, where are the rest of the girls?" Lilith asked.

Hekna froze in place.

"Well... Little Lilith made these dungeons. She... didn't make it. I'm not too sure about the rest. We haven't contacted each other since we sealed ourselves away."

The three of them chatted as they slowly left the dungeon, Hekna removing floors each time they get further to the surface. Then, finally, fresh air and real sun. Hekna took a deep breath in.

"Smells like crossbreeding." Hekna said before completely destroying what remained of her dungeon, replacing it with a manor.

"Magic can do that?" Veronica asked, stunned by what Hekna can do.

"Any skilled mage should be able to do this." She said, as if she wasn't completely out of touch with the world.

Of course, the nearby guards weren't terribly happy with it. But, couldn't really do much. What were they going to say?

But, Veronica led Hekna all the way back to the academy in broad daylight. It clearly has been a while since Veronica went in there. How long has it been exactly, she wondered.