What in the world did that do? Did something change? My status looks the same.

  What gives? It’s not even any brighter than before! Hopefully I didn’t break it.

  On the bright side of this potentially failed experiment, I do still get to take all of this big one’s possessions. His outfit is far too large for me and is only made of their lazy, weak fabric. No strong skin. They call it leather? I don’t think that’ll be good for mixing? Maybe I’m wrong. Let me tear off some pieces of it to collect, just in case.

  I’m definitely taking this mysterious grey plate. All of his pouches are also going straight into my bag. I’ll check them later. Whatever’s left of the potion is mine now. No backpack on his shoulders, sadly. Is that really it?

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  In disappointment, I ransack his body carefully for more. Paydirt! There are two rings on his hands and an ornate necklace around his neck. All three are wrapped in tiny, sparkly clouds, so I’m certain that they’re incredibly valuable. Even if I have no idea what to use them for yet. If I can’t quickly figure it out, then they’ll get tossed on the magic-I-need-to-figure-out category shelf in the sewer. Right next to that focus stone thing.

  Certain that I’ve scavenged everything, I drag the body into the sludge stream and then guide it through the flow to the exit. Sadly, it’s too big to fit through the bars, probably by design. It takes a while, but my knife solves the problem. Can’t have anyone easily finding the body and wanting to investigate. Especially if I end up making down here my new temporary home at some point.

  About to head back up to the terminal, I realize that I’m covered in red. This one drew his own from his eyes, ears, and mouth before dying, exactly as the young one had. I must have gotten covered in it when I carried him into the sludge. Although, I suppose that the cutting to fit him through the exit bars didn’t help either. This won’t do. Their obsession with smells is a humorish distraction, but someone covered in their red is sure to draw far more attentive suspicions. The sludge isn’t enough. It’ll only mix it in more and darken it. I suppose… I suppose l’ll have to use the clean intake.

  Thoroughly rinsing my cloak, leathers, and even my hands in the clear water, eventually the red all disappears. Yet somehow I feel far worse for the effort. How often do they do this? Every day? Disgusting.

  Returning to the surface, I easily make my way back to the Vastra terminal. Showing my wood token, the porter demands tribute and I provide my prepared pouch. The tear opens, and I step through in glorious triumph. Not a single strange or bizarre thing happened this time. It was a very ordinary trip. These big one dungeon visits really can be normal and safe if I prepare well enough.

  Back with plenty of time to spare, I feed and observe the slime. Must stay disciplined with my practice. The ability to see that big one coming from far away in the dark was priceless. If I get even better at it, what else will I be able to see?

  After feeding the slime, I attempt to appraise all the magical equipment. To my surprise, it works incredibly well.

  Interesting, that’s like the stone. So they affect transformations? Luckily I do most of my transformations with my hand, which will always be in contact with this ring.

  This ring is very, very interesting. Hidden places means better treasure, no? Have I already missed some that this would have caught?

  The final gift leaves me confused. On the one hand, it’s amazing for my exact situation. My face is the very last part of me left uncovered under my hood. On the other hand, what would I ever need to use this for? I’ve been perfectly functional already without it. Maybe if someone demands that I lower my hood in order to enter somewhere? Also, how long is “temporarily”? Maybe if I practice with it, then it’ll make more sense when to use it.

  The big one’s pouches contain lots more coins. Some new ones too. Neither the coppers nor silver. Unfortunately, there’s only the one potion that he took out and partially used. No weapons. No little books. Surprisingly, it’s pretty boring, especially after all the magic items. However, there’s one more thing that’s certainly interesting: a rolled up piece of parchment containing a simplified map of Tranas.

  Since I had just generated one of my own, biased to the underground though it was, I immediately recognize the rough layout of all the important landmarks. The guild facility. The port terminals. The trade streets. The gates. However, there are many other locations markers that I can’t make any sense of. Most notably, there’s a series of plain black squares surrounding completely uninteresting areas. Why did he add these?

  Bewildered, I move the map from one hand to the other in order to scratch my head to release more thoughts. By chance, I’m still wearing the detection ring, and it pulses lightly. Is something hidden on the map? How do I see it?

  Acting on instinct, I connect from core to eyes and amplify my vision as much as possible. A thin, hazy cloud of magic appears hovering over the surface of the paper, almost as if it’s also a magical item. Almost but not quite. Pushing my eyes further through the agony, I forcefully pierce through the veil.

  Underneath the simple top layer, all the boxes are crossed out but one. Also, at the top is scribbled “Garret’s Hermetic Library”.