The Chimera Summoner – Ch 19 – (Part 1/2)

Ch 19–

The weekend was upon us, and with it, our first Dungeon dive.

Friday found us tired but not exhausted. Our growing Mind attributes allowed us to work harder than a normal person one day and still be able to do it again the next. I was proud of myself for sticking to my self-imposed extra workout sessions. It helped that, as a Wayfinder, I was already feeling results.

I'd been keeping my familiars summoned almost continuously, only dismissing them when I got so tired from casting skills that I had no choice.

Thankfully, Brawly’s was my only physically demanding class that day. And she had us painstakingly learning the technique for various physical exercises. The bedrock of a workout routine. She still managed to completely tire us out. Doing a proper pushup was a thousand times worse than what I had been doing at home.

Another two huge bowls of soup, and two more lecture classes in the afternoon.

In those, I thrived. I would've killed for the information that the professors showered us with. I could scarcely write fast enough. Lucy couldn't be bothered with them, falling fast asleep on my shoulder. But Lorna attended with fascination, hovering just over a chair, and listening intently, occasionally whispering a note for me to write down for her later consideration. These, I universally found interesting and insightful.

In-between classes she would remark to me about the differences between different world’s understandings of the Dungeon, its monsters, and strategies to navigate it successfully. I found the contrasting insight she could offer, from her time in other worlds, to be fascinating. And she, like many knowledgeable people, was pleased to have an enthusiastic ear that valued what she could share.

Jennie was a constant presence. As we slowly became more comfortable navigating Bayloft's maze-like halls, she critiqued our lessons and joked with Lucy and Lorna. Her sharp barbs were a novelty to Lorna, who had evidently only experienced a rather formal kind of company in the past. Jennie and Lucy got on very well, which made sense given our collective intimate experience in the catacombs.

However, something was off between me and her. She wouldn't meet my eyes very long, and any time we talked about the dungeon, she got a distant look and changed the subject. I decided I needed to clear the air.

“Look.” I said abruptly, cornering the smaller girl in the hall. “I like you. I think we work well together. All of us.”

Jennie blinked in surprise at my sudden intensity so I went on, pressing the advantage.

“I want us to dive the Dungeon together.” I said plainly. “But long term, I am seriously considering soloing, and I know that puts you in a complicated situation. And I’m sorry for taking that for granted. Taking YOU for granted. If you want to go find a team that might be long term for you, I totally understand. But if not, I want you to dive with us this weekend. You’re an amazing ally and friend, and I think we can do well together.”

Jennie paused looking at Lorna and Lucy. They both nodded. Lucy, quite eagerly. They'd felt my growing concern, and had felt me building up to start this conversation for minutes in advance. We’d been working all day to keep a finger on the pulse of our bond at all times. It was mentally taxing, but extremely useful.

Jennie considered. “I want to be on a team of five, long term.” She said hesitantly. “But the teams we find at school are unlikely to last my whole career. The ones forming now are unlikely to last the month. So for now… yeah. I'll tag along with you weirdos. It'll be a good chance to get a bigger slice of the leveling pie, with just two Wayfinders. We’ll basically be cheating.”

I grinned. Lucy swept Jennie up in a huge hug, smooshing the rogue's face between her boobs, today stuffed into a tee shirt sized for me. It was stretched and taut to Lucy’s shape, like she'd been poured into it, emphasizing the lack of bra. I just couldn't get Lucy into clothing she deemed unnecessary.

Jennie emerged red faced from Lucy’s cleavage.

“Great!” I said, rubbing my hands together. “First dive after classes, friday?”

Jennie looked taken back.

“Today is friday.” She said incredulously.

“Yep!”

“You don’t want to take a day off? Or even just this evening?” Jennie wheedled.

“Nahhh, costs five tokens to use the Bayloft dungeon entrance.” I said. “But you can stay as long as you want. I wanna get the most for our tokens.”

“Yes, but a rest day.” Jennie said.

“Yes, but saving enough tokens to get a private room. Maybe even a suite.” I argued. I was secretly happy either way, just relieved that things were once again feeling normal with Jennie now that our respective long term needs were clear.

“You’re a FANATIC.” groaned Jennie, “Fine. tonight.”

“Sick. We’ll give you first pick of all the loot.” I grinned.

Jennie rolled her eyes. “Relax, pervert, I said I'd join your team for now, already.”

“A viable composition.” Lorna nodded approvingly. “Off tank, healer, support, and melee dps.”

“More balanced than a lot of our classmates.” Jennie snorted.

“Oh?” I asked, curious.

Jennie looked guilty. “I may have been… putting out some feelers for a group to join.”

I shrugged. “Of course. I probably should have too, if only to have an idea of what teams are forming. Anyone good?”

Jennie nodded incredulously. “They're all good. Or they've had family assistance leveling. I thought I'd be ahead of the pack at five. Joanne and her goons are all level eight already. And of course, there’s Hera.”

“That’s the hot blonde who wants to be class president?” I asked. “What about her?”

Jennie looked at me like I was an idiot. “Her dad is the Meteor Blade. Her mom is the Iron Valkyrie. She’s literally Wayfinder royalty. And as far as I know, she’s a prodigy.”

“How far do you know?’ I asked.

“She’s been challenged to duels six times already. She won all of them without using a Skill.” Jennie said, flatly.

I whistled.

“Sheesh.” I muttered.

“And she’s so pretty.” Lucy sighed.

I swatted her long rabbit ears. She danced away, clutching her precious fluffy ears, indignantly.

“But her party’s composition is crazy.” Jennie continued. “Four DPS  and a tank. No healer. Agnes could be an off-tank if she wanted…? But I'm pretty sure she won't.”

“Why would they accept such teammates?” Asked Lorna, perplexed. “A handful of levels aren't as important as synergy.”

Jennie and I shared a look. “Politics.” We said together.

“Their families are aligned.” Explained Jennie. “So they load their kids up with gear and pump them full of levels and stick them in a party. Makes their family look good if they're stronger than everyone else.”

After our last class, Jennie glumly gave me the thumbs up and I dragged her to the dining hall to stuff down as much sustenance as possible before our first dive. She'd tried a couple times, rather half heartedly, to convince me to take a day off on Friday. But had conceded each time.

We stuffed ourselves. I’d noticed a distinct uptick in my appetite since we started classes. It wasn't surprising. We were all working hard every day. Even lecture classes burned a lot of energy, with the numerous vast topics we were trying to become versed in.

I let myself eat until I wasn't hungry anymore. Then took a few extra bites just in case. We’d bring supplies into the dungeon, since we were planning to stay all weekend if possible. But, as our professors kept repeating, the Dungeon was fundamentally unpredictable. Death by starvation happened. I took one last nervous bite.

The building around the Bayloft Dungeon gate was massive. It served as a market for all the students. Places to buy and sell various kinds of loot, items and materials, as well as facilities for the crafting students and staff to work.

We picked up a week worth of rations and some water canisters. Water was plentiful in most dungeon dives but being able to store a couple days was wise. The whole supply cost us four tokens a piece, of the fifteen our first week of classes had yielded.

Entrance to the dungeon cost another five. We paid it to Professor Valant, who was on duty at the time. She dropped the bronze tokens into the collection box and handed us two escape medallions. They were valuable magic trinkets that would allow us to teleport out of the Dungeon, in the event we became incapacitated.

“Smart Wayfinders know how to retreat. Don't get greedy.”  She said, sternly.

We nodded.

We’d heard it before. Our professors had berated us again and again on caution, knowing our first dives were likely going to happen this weekend. Only students who hadn't been able to find satisfactory teams yet would be left outside. They'd spend the time training, instead.

We walked up to the great bronze archway. Within, myriad colors swirled ominously, promising adventure. And threatening death.

I gulped. Lucy bumped her shoulder into mine in an easygoing way. I bumped her back.

“Let's do this!” I said.

Maybe a little too loud. My voice felt echoey in the large and crowded gate chamber.

People were in line behind us. We had to go.

Jennie gave me a sharp nod and we all linked hands and stepped into the portal.

I landed with a soft thump on what felt like mossy turf.

I spat out the pink fluffy stuff and looked around.

My companions were all at hand, getting to their feet. Lorna had been right that her disembodied hand would not be a problem. As long as Jennie and I held hands, we would show up together, and my Familiars would be with me automatically. Lucy had held my hand anyway because it felt right.

We were in a pink mossy cave system, lit by glowing blue crystals embedded in the walls and ceiling. The air was crisp and slightly damp.

“Candy caves.” Jennie grunted, looking around.