“Holy heck!” Said Blingo as she took stock of all the items, “We are looking at fifty hundred crown, 1000 silver, 500 dub! We are talking jewels equal to the worth of roughly 1200 dub! We are talking… talking… talking items! Bona fide magic items! Kid, even that pendant’s magic!”

  Julio looked at the pendant around his neck, “It is?”

  “Yes! It’s one of the skills I have with the journalist class. It’s called “The Scoop!” And it means I can instantly tell what a magic item does. That my friend is called “Vera’s Pendant. And it lets you cast water spells at half mana!”

  “Wow!” Julio said, “That’s amazing!” He looked into it, seeing the oceanic cut of stone, “May I keep it?”

  “Those are the rules,” Jasssper said, “You keep what you kill in the dark lord’s system. The only thing we ask for is a tax on the gold. But since we’re all a party here, we split up the money evenly and the magic items are up for debate.

  Blademan looked around at the magic items. There were three not including the pendant.

  He picked up a bracer.

  “Good eye… Or… Good… nevermind. It’s a slight bonus on slash attacks,” Said Blingo, “Perfect.”

  Blademan lifted his hand and it slid further on.

  Kip fidgeted with a circular spectacle, “Well, I’ll donate my entire fund to the commonwealth. But… this magic item, what is it?”

  “Wow. That’s the Peeker’s Monocle. It can look through any wall so long as it’s uncharmed and not made of glass.”

  Kip looked through the eyepiece. Everything was covered in a red tint. Kip wondered that Davilo would likely have something to say about the craftsmanship or where it came from or how he would likely destroy it. He looked down while peering through it. He could see the physical bodies of his comrades but they were glowing red. Because the ocean was a collection of dense particles in a fluid all the way through, he could not see through it. But when he looked down at the ship he was amazed. He could see the bottom of the riverboat. He could see the sacks of flour, and when he tinkered with the focus on the side of the monocle, he was able to look even farther through than before.

  “Blimey!” Said Kip, “I reckon these would come in great handy when it comes to repair.”

  “Yeah, truthfully I could use them for a scoop, but Dark Lord and all. I guess it makes sense that you get first dibs. But this here! This here’s something that helps with stamina! This will be perfect for my Dic.” She wrapped the ring around one of Dic’s talons. Dic strutted with the new accessory on.

  “Yeah, that’s perfect. Except the snake didn’t get anything.”

  “Jussst happy to be part of the team,” Jasssper seethed.

  “I’m sure you are.”

  "What are you implying?”

  “Nothing. Yet.”

  Jasssper slitted his beady eyes at Blingo, who occasionally stole smirked glances in between further affixing the magic item onto Dic.

  After some more tension, they attempted to pilot their destroyed ship home. The helm was off and the sail was tarnished by arrow holes so they all had to grab oars and slowly paddled out of the crocodile-infested waters.

  Once arrived at the dock, Blademan told Kip he had some business to take care of in the labyrinth, and he departed. The crew had to move quickly. Naga and the crew were leaving soon, with or without Julio. Naga was waiting. She was much larger than Jasssper. She was a purple cobra with a human face. Her flaps were black with red diamonds inside. She had a permanent scowl around her face, but it lightened when seeing Jasssper.

  “Ahh, Jasssper.” Said Naga, “Very good to see you, old friend.”

  “You asss well, Naga!” Jasssper said, “Truly it is a wonder we don’t see each other more.”

  “Come by the Unending Underdark more often! We’re growing everyday!”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Yesss, I mussst. Naga, I’m glad you resssponded to my sssumons. We have a boy here, Julio. He’s a young ssstudent of magic. Water magic. We were wondering if you would be so kind asss to show him some of the basics.”

  “Ahh, my mastery is in a completely different field of study. I play in the realm of the dreamscape. I mostly operate off of illusions and control. It is not good for direct combat like water magic could be.”

  “Would you let him hang around you?” Kip asked, “He’s very eager to learn!”

  “Yes,” Naga said, sizing up the boy. Julio was scared at the uncanniness of the monster but out of politeness he tried not to show it. Blingo… did a worse job of trying not to show she was scared.

  “You will let him tag along?” Jasssper asked.

  Naga thought about it, “As a favor to you. But I would suggest finding him a proper tutor. There is only so much I can do.”

  “We will scour the dark lord’s armies.” Said Kip assuredly, “Say.. Naga, have you heard about Steerboil?”

  “Yes.” Naga said, “It has been some time since monsters were allowed as students. That would be his best option.”

  “Would they allow a student who is a dark-sider?” Julio asked.

  Kip looked eager too. The history was not lost on them. The Anuri were largely considered day-siders, but obviously the small ghetto in Lethal Lake was still considered a part of Shangra, and thus the Anuri from Padlily were treated similarly to other monsters.

  “It is not unknown,”Said Naga, "It was more popular in times passed, but it was once that Steerboil was a safe haven from politics. Itt was a bastion of learning and equity. But… those years are gone now.” Said Naga.

  Kip bumped his hand with his fist, “Drat. I wonder if there would be some way to get him in?”

  “Not likely. Not unless you got permission from the king himself.”

  Kip thought, “There has to be some way. But for now, I thank you.”

  Naga bowed her head to the Dark Lord. Julio thanked them for showing him his first fight and they were off on their journey.

  Kip waved them goodbye as they left on the carriage. Naga was as big as the carriage, and followed behind.

  Kip turned to Blingo, “Well, look!” Kip said, “Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you got everything you needed! Shall I assist you on the return to the Underdark?”

  “Not quite yet,” Blingo said, “I might as well clear this day out with you all. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Not at all!” Said Kip. He turned to Jasssper, whose face was worn by exhaustion, “You don’t mind, do you Jasssper?”

  Blingo turned. She had a little fang that popped out from her top lip when she smiled. She gave Jasssper a glossy look and said, “Yeah, you don’t mind. Do ya?”

  Jasssper let out a sigh, “No. Sire. I don’t mind. I just… have to freshen up.”

  “Yeah, no problem,” Said Blingo. “Where are you off to? I know there’s a bathhouse in the underdark.”

  “That’s wonderful! The next location is the Underdark. Shall we take the service tunnels?”

  “Sounds good to me,” Blingo said, “Should be right under us I think.”

  They found a service tunnel near enough, entered, and then after some walking, made it into the Underdark. They walked though Granite Market where Kip, Jasssper, and Blingo bought some food.

  “Finally, some stuff that ain’t bugs!” Blingo said.

  “Blingo, you’re eating a fried rat.”

  “Yeah, tastes like home.” Blingo ate the fried rat on a stick as well as some fried pickles as they walked through to the bathhouse.

  Once they got to Grandma Goblin’s Grand Goblet, they bought tickets and separated into their respective baths.

  Kip took his hoodie off and put it in the locker. Jasssper left his papal hat and cowl inside.

  “Finally we’re away from that interloper,” Said Jasssper.

  “I know you don’t like her, but I believe she does honest work. I’ve read some of her articles and they’re grand! That time she blew open the lid on who stole Aunty Bear’s pickles? Genius stuff.”

  Grandma Goblin’s Grand Goblet was a large underwater mineral basin. The water was separated into large pools and there was a large canvas split down the middle to prevent the two sides from intermingling. One side could hear the other but the only way they’d be able to access it is through the front or if they could someone squeeze through the gap at the top.

  Kip closed the locker and looked at Jasssper, “You aren’t coming to the baths?” He asked.

  “I shall, sire. Jussst have to catch up with something. Run along! I’ll join you in a moment.”

  Kip waved his hand and said, “I’m glad I have you as my advisor, Jasssper. You’ve been a helpful aide by my side. I want to let you know I appreciate you.”

  “Of… courssse. Of course. Thank you, sire.”

  Kip nodded and let Jasssper alone. Jasssper smiled at him and right as Kip turned the corner, he slithered as quickly as he could to the lobby area. He looked around and found what was known as an Acoustigraph, a unique form of instant communication only found in the Underdark. Metal tubes were placed all around the underdark that allowed sound to bounce perfectly off one another. There was a central office that would then make sure one pipe connected to the other, and two people anywhere in the underdark could reconnect. Jasssper leaned into the phone and said, “Service? The Batwing, Third Corridor, Tendril 910. Yes, I’ll hold.”

  As a dwarven woman with acrylic nails grabbed one pipe and interconnected it to another, Jasssper was now able to talk to the person in the batwing, tendril 910.

  “I’m sssso sorry, master. I was drawn away for the day.”

  The sound connected back to Jasssper, “I know. Yesss, I’m an idiot. I know. It’s thisss reporter. She’s been buzzing around us all day. She’s doing some piece for the new dark lord. I know you hate when I call him that. Yess, yess, I shall give you my report.”

  Jasssper attempted to keep his voice low. He was in a room that bordered the large canvas, so he knew not who could be on the other side. But as he continued to speak to the mysterious voice on the other end of the line, perched on a rock ledge above him, was a beady little eye staring at him and drinking in his conversation. And the owner of those beady eyes, only had one thing to say:

  “SQUAAAW!”

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