The Elf and I stared at one another for several moments until finally the Elf burst out laughing. He was joined by others in the crowd who held decorative fans over the bottom halves of their faces or politely covered their mouths with a gloved knuckle. I looked around in embarrassment, but felt myself growing more and more confused by the moment. What was going on here? Was this a dungeon or not?

  “I beg your pardon, Davros,” the Elf said after the laughter had ceased. “Here in House Merovingian, we do not often entertain monsters of any caliber! Save those who few who come with greed or avarice in their hearts!”

  “I don’t understand what you mean, sir?” I said with a shake of my head. “I stepped through a portal and found myself here, because I was told to find the Silveron Seed. Do you know it?”

  My mentioning of the item desired by Madame Krait had an immediate effect upon my hosts. The Elf’s smile immediately dipped into a frown and the rest of the crowd involuntarily took several steps back from the two of us, clearing us a wide space with myself and the Elf at the center. Again, I sensed that feeling of hostility, which had risen even higher than before.

  “The Silveron Seed?” The Elf slowly stated. His eyes glowed silver and they didn’t blink as they bored into me like twin spikes of silver ice. “You seek that which is both sacred and forbidden to those who are not of the Blood. How disappointing, young Davros! How very…unfortunate.”

  The Elf snapped his fingers and suddenly I was cast into an impenetrable darkness. I gasped in fear and reeled back, involuntarily summoning a bead of fire to float above my finger. My control over fire was such that I could now indefinitely create a small light in place of a torch. Yet, despite my hovering flame, the darkness was too deep to pierce.

  Then, the darkness was gone as suddenly as it had appeared and I was again inside the Greenhouse. It was now devoid of any living beings save myself and I was stunned to suddenly be alone. I still held the glass of champagne I had been given, but I set it down gently upon a bench underneath a tree with leaves the color of blue sapphires.

  I think I must have offended that Elf by mentioning the Seed. He clearly doesn’t want me to have it! No matter, I’m not leaving without it.

  As if answering my thoughts, I received a new notification.

  You have entered the Forsaken Garden!

  This is a Solo Dungeon that will test your fortitude, skill and decision making skills. Note: This is a non-linear Dungeon that has no set path or order of operations.

  Description: The final night of House Merovingian saw the destruction of an entire Bloodline that occurred within the Greenhouse.

  Bonus: Discover the true reason for the House’s fall.

  Main Quest Part 1: Defeat each of the Greenhouse Wardens.

  1) Warden of Keys

  2) Warden of Doors

  3) Warden of Secrets

  This was more in line with what I had expected. The Dungeon, clearly sensing that even though I was Awakened, needed a lot of direction and so was telling me what I needed to do.

  I need to find each of these Wardens and beat them, but where do I start?

  I did a slow walk around the area. I was in a large, cloistered area that was circular in shape with benches set an intervals underneath the shade of overhanging trees. The ground was cobblestone, but I noticed that there were three separate paths to choose from that would likely lead me to other parts of the Greenhouse.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  If the Dungeon is non-linear, it really doesn’t matter which way I go. I’ll just choose one and see where it leads. That’s what Valka would do, charge forward!

  I started walking down the center path, because it was the largest and it was also lit by tiny lanterns that had been shaped to look like flowers. I examined one closer, even reaching out a hand to lightly touch one of them, but immediately drew my hand back when I felt a sting. It was cold.

  No wonder I can’t feel any of these lights. They aren’t fire! What could they be?

  The mystery of the lights would have to wait as I came to a fork in the path. Both paths were lit. A large tree, this one with orange leaves, marked the place where the path’s diverged. There was another bench placed beneath it, but unlike the other benches in the area I had left, two statues were seated next to each other upon this one. They had been shaped to appear as if having a conversation with one another.

  I approached the statues cautiously and examined them at a distance. They had a distinct brownish color and I saw now they had been carved not from stone, but from tree limbs. Arms, legs, and heads with surprisingly detailed faces were smooth, burnished wood. One of the statues was clearly male and the other female. Both had their arms outstretched to one another as if about to embrace…or attack one another.

  These just might be…

  There was a cracking sound as the male head swiveled to look at me, the female following suit a moment later. I moved back a step and raised my hands, preparing to cast a spell. I received an update as the health bars for both statues became visible to me.

  Fae Sculpted Male

  Level: 18

  Fae Sculpted Female

  Level: 18

  The Fae Sculpted stood and moved simultaneously moved to engage me. I didn’t waste any more time. With my right hand I cast Burning Arms, while holding a Combustion Bolt ready in my left should I have need of a follow up attack. A steady stream of flames erupted from my palm, like a striking snake of pure fire. My flame slammed into the chest of the Fae Sculpted Male, blasting it backward onto the bench and setting it on fire.

  “Ha!” I shouted in triumph.

  These creatures are no match for me!

  My Combustion Bolt lifted the Fae Sculpted Female off her feet and sent her skidding back across the ground to slam into the bench. Both were now burning profusely and wriggling helplessly as they were consumed by the stacking [Burning] damage. In no time at all, both were motionless and smoking husks upon the ground.

  You have looted 18 gold, 26 silver!

  The loot was sent automatically into my ring’s Inventory. That was a welcome convenience especially as I didn’t want to waste any time searching burnt corpses. Despite the ease in which I had dispatched my first encounter with the ‘plant monsters’ I had been told to expect, I knew I couldn’t let myself get cocky. As it had been with the other dungeons, greater challenges lay undoubtedly lay ahead.

  I took the right fork and after a short walk stood aghast at the entrance to a wondrous sight.

  It is so beautiful!

  A small grove, shaped by magic, had been ringed with tall trees that stretched up to the unseen Greenhouse roof and arranged so that only the topmost boughs were visible. It was like I was standing inside a forest at twilight. Fireflies flitted amongst rows of multi-colored flowers and at the direct center of the space was a reflecting pool with a green mound dead center of the pool. From this angle, it looked like a submerged turtle shell.

  I felt drawn into the chamber, overawed once more by the unbelievable variety of life and sensation that existed within Dungeons. The air smelled like something out of a dream. Sharp and sweet it provided an invigorating sensation I felt throughout my body. As dangerous as I knew dungeons were, there was a purity within them that the Withered Lands lacked. It made me sad to think it was all make believe. I felt I could live quite happily in a world that a Dungeon dreamt up.

  A small group of the fireflies flitted over towards me, curious about the interloper that had ventured into their domain. I held out my hands and I let them circle my hands and then my fingers. Fireflies they might be named, but I sensed no flames within them. Curiosity finally satisfied, they flew off towards the green mound. Once they reached their destination, I watched enraptured as they began to fly in a perfect circle, faster and faster, until finally in a flash of light, a small being with the wings of a moth floated atop the mound.

  It was green in color, but its eyes were orange as the fireflies were. It regarded me passively for a moment, then I heard a voice speaking directly into my mind.

  When you see inside of me, you see nothing. What am I?

  “What?” I asked aloud. I felt confused. Was it asking me a question? I examined the creature closer.

  Motamna, Warden of Secrets

  Level: 20

  I lowered my scarf and scratched the side of my face that was sloped. The creature, Motamna, wasn’t moving. It hovered patiently as it waited for my next move.

  Was that a riddle? It’s different from the ones I heard at the Orphanage?

  The riddles I had overheard spoken by other Orphans had always been easy like, ‘What’s big, stupid and loud?’ The answer had always been Corlo. Or, ‘What’s cold, wet and hungry?’ Me, had always been the answer to that one. This was different.

  I thought hard about what the answer could be after I disregarded the notion I should just attack first. What if answering the riddle brought some benefit? Maybe Motamna wouldn’t want to fight?

  “Hmm, I don’t suppose I can have a hint?” I asked silent Warden of Secrets.

  You have 2:59 remaining…

  “Oh…I see.”

  It went without saying what would happen if I didn’t answer or got the answer wrong. It was subtle at first, but Motamna’s glow was growing brighter and brighter.

  I was on the clock and with this-Boss? Sub-boss?- a full 11 Levels stronger than I was, not discovering the answer might bring my solo dungeon run to a very abrupt, violent end.