Lilit left her room the next morning and ran into Izumi and Rana coming out of Rana’s room together. That hadn’t taken long. Looking closer, Lilit noticed bite marks peeking out of Izumi’s top. Lilit felt a small surge of jealousy and arousal. Both confused her. She didn’t have any cims on either Izumi or Rana. She hadn’t started any kind of retionship aside from friendship with either. She also wasn’t usually one to participate in voyeurism. But the thought of what the two women had been up to all night had Lilit’s panties uncomfortably damp.

  She followed behind them to the kitchen. Her eyes strafing over both their bodies. Her gaze lingered on where Izumi had her arm wrapped around Rana’s waist, and jealousy pulsed through her again.

  Lilit vowed to be a supportive friend and not cause strife. She would act happy for her friends. If she practiced that enough, maybe she’d even start to believe it.

  She was startled to find Awenda cooking inside the kitchen when they came in. Lilit hadn’t expected to apparently be the st one up.

  Awenda was searing some kind of meat in the skillet. It smelled like bacon, but nuttier. It looked a bit like steak. In another skillet she had some rather rge eggs sizzling away.

  “I thought you couldn’t cook,” Lilit accused.

  “I never said I couldn’t cook. I said I couldn’t cook well. This though is pretty easy. Even a hatchling could cook this,” Awenda happily replied.

  “Well, it smells delicious, muscles.” Izumi complimented.

  “Thanks. If you want, you can have this one and I’ll make another.” Awenda offered and Izumi’s head nodded so fast she looked broken. “Does anyone else want any?”

  Lilit and Rana quickly piped up that they’d want some. “I’ll help out if you show me what to do,” Lilit offered.

  “Thanks, I’d love the help.” Awenda smiled at Lilit. Lilit blushed at the warmth in Awenda’s eyes.

  She stepped forward and grabbed the carton of eggs. Awenda quickly sent her back for her eggs, which were in a slightly different, rger carton. Lilit was curious if there would be much difference. She got to frying the eggs while Awenda seared meat.

  It wasn’t too long before they were all seated at the table, eating together. Izumi had finished by the time Lilit and Awenda sat down, but she stayed seated with a contented smile on her face.

  Lilit took a bite of eggs. Not bad. Tasted pretty simir to the eggs she was used to. If there was a difference it was subtle enough that she didn’t pick up on it. When she cut into the meat and took a bite, she moaned in appreciation. It was succulent and fvorful. It tasted a bit like pork with a slightly nutty fvor. It was seared beautifully and was so delicious.

  Awenda smiled at her as she continued to eat. Lilit wanted to take her time and savor her breakfast, but it felt like no time before she was pushing back from the table, pte empty in front of her. “That was so good, Awenda.”

  “Thanks,” Awenda answered shyly.

  When everyone was finished, Lilit cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. “I think we ought to head into the next dungeon today. We had a lot of practice yesterday, and I feel like we’re really syncing well. I don’t know that practicing will help us get any better without hiring a trainer for us individually and as a group. But, we’re all broke.”

  “I’m not,” Izumi interrupted.

  “Ok, we’re almost all broke. We’re still low level, I think we’re in a good spot to take on the next dungeon. If we take too long we may end up psyching ourselves out more than helping. What does everyone else think?” Lilit asked.

  Rana and Awenda looked thoughtful as they considered what Lilit said. Izumi on the other hand was practically bouncing in her seat in excitement. Her eyes darted between everyone. Lilit didn’t doubt that she was raring to get back into a dungeon. She had a feeling that Izumi craved excitement in all forms.

  Rana was the first to speak. “I think it would be ok. I might want to do a little more practice as a group against different enemy types, because we don’t know what’s going to be in the next dungeon. But…I can also see what you mean about being over prepared.”

  Awenda nodded along, “Yes. I feel the same way.” She let out a deep sigh. “I don’t want us to be held back by fear though. Like you said, Lilit, we’re a low enough level that we shouldn’t be too overwhelmed by anything we encounter.”

  “I’m ready, let’s gooooooo!” Izumi yelled.

  Everyone around the table ughed. “Yeah, let’s make sure we have enough rations and gear, and then let’s go.” Rana said.

  Awenda grinned and nodded her head. “Yes, let’s do this.”

  They decided to take the morning to make sure they were happy with their packs. They’d eat one st lunch in the inn, and then head out for the next dungeon. It was Rana’s suggestion that they eat down in the tavern one st time. Everyone else was game.

  So, at lunch time they found themselves down in the tavern, once again being waited on by Sapphire. “You dies look like you’re getting ready to head out.”

  “We are. I wanted to ask, where do we enter the dungeon?” Lilit asked.

  “Oh, well I’m sure you could have just asked your companion here,” Sapphire patted her hand on Izumi’s shoulder. “But you just need to head out the front door. The Crucible takes care of the rest.”

  “The Crucible?” Rana asked.

  “Oh, that’s just what everyone calls this pce,” Sapphire waved her hand around generally. “All the dungeons and The Inn are a part of The Crucible.”

  “Hmmm. Thanks, Sapphire.” Lilit said.

  Sapphire’s smile lit up her face, “You’re welcome, dear. Now how about I bring you dies out some lunch. Don’t want to start a dungeon on an empty stomach.”

  They pced their orders and ate their lunch. As usual it was all delicious. Before they knew it they were up and striding toward the door. The entire tavern seemed to hold their breath as they watched the group approach the front door.

  The group paused in front of it for a moment, then Lilit waved at Awenda. “Maybe you should lead the way. Just in case.”

  Awenda nodded her head and reached up, gripping the door handle. She took a deep breath and then shoved the door open. She stepped through it before Lilit had a chance to see what was on the other side.

  “I’ll take up the rear position. Make sure no one sneaks up on us,” Izumi volunteered.

  Lilit nodded in appreciation and then stepped through the door, following Rana through. Immediately the brightness around them dimmed. Shadows creeped along the edges of the small room they found themselves in.

  Awenda had stopped in the middle of the room, looking around. Rana stepped to the side, and Lilit stepped to the opposite side so they were set up in a diamond formation. Izumi thankfully maintained her position behind everyone else. The room was only maybe twenty feet across and circur. Dim lights seemed to glow around the edges of the ceiling, barely illuminating the stone tiles they stood on.

  The door thudded closed behind them. But not before they heard the other patrons start talking again. The one thing that Lilit was able to clearly hear before the doors closed was the word, ‘crypt.’ She had a sneaking suspicion they were all going to be gd they picked up those backup weapons.

  Everyone’s Delver went off on their arms at the same time. A notification popped up in the air when Lilit brought her arm up. It was duplicated in the air in front of the others as well. Safe zones like this will be indicated by your Delver. These areas will remain monster free and give you the opportunity to regroup, strategize, and camp without worry.

  Well, that was actually pretty helpful. She had tried not to worry too much about what they would have to do if the dungeon took longer than a day to clear. But, with rooms like this that wouldn’t be a problem. Provided they appeared frequently enough to not have to worry about using whatever one they found when they found it.

  “Alright, dies. Let’s go kick this dungeon’s ass.” Rana was getting pumped up again. She twirled her axes around in her hands impatiently.

  Awenda nodded over her shoulder and strode forward to the door in the far wall. There was no handle on it, so she pushed. The door slid back slowly and scraped across the ground loudly.

  “Well, any thoughts of catching anything on the other side unaware are out the window.” Lilit compined.

  Lilit felt something smack into her butt. She twirled around to catch Izumi smirking, “Lighten up buttercup. We’ll be ok. You’ve got me watching your gorgeous backs.” Her eyes raked up and down Lilit’s body.

  Lilit turned away, blushing furiously. Fuck, she may not survive this dungeon. Not because of any monsters, but because of all the mounting sexual tension she felt between them all. Tonight promised to be eventful, especially if they were still in the dungeon and forced to camp.

  The group followed Awenda as she marched through the door. The room they entered stretched into the darkness. Two rows of square columns held up the ceiling. Torches lined the walls some hundred feet away and hung from the columns. They cast small pools of light, surrounded by inky shadows. It would be easy for monsters to sneak up on them out there if they weren’t careful.

  Nothing seemed to be moving in the room, but Lilit could just make out the distant sound of clicking and ccking in the darkness.

  “Fuck, I think those sound like skeletons,” Rana reported.

  “Everyone have your backup weapons ready,” Lilit ordered. “Let’s not meet them out in the open like this. They could come at us from any direction. If we hug one of the walls that cuts down on which directions they can come at us from.”

  Awenda silently led them toward the wall to their right angling for one of the pools of light. By the time they made it over there, the sound of clicking and ccking had grown louder. Lilit could make out movement in the shadows between the columns up ahead.

  Lilit moved herself so she was closest to the wall in the formation. She wanted the most distance between her and the monsters in the dark so she could direct and manage the team’s health.

  “Actually Lilit, we might need you up with us with that mace of yours.” Rana suggested.

  It was less than ideal, but Lilit understood Rana’s thought process. Depending on how rge the mob of probably skeletons was it might be difficult with just three people killing things. Izumi’s phantasm was not very helpful at all against them.

  “Izumi, if these are skeletons don’t call your phantasm. Let’s save your mana since we don’t know what’s up ahead or how fast regeneration is going to be here.” Lilit ordered.

  “Sounds good, boss.” Izumi called out. She pulled her new wand out and pointed it forward.

  “I see them. It’s skeletons,” Awenda confirmed quietly.

  “Really, you can see that far away in the dark?” Lilit asked.

  “Yeah, can’t everyone?” Awenda turned to look at them incredulously.

  The rest of the group shook their heads no.

  “Oh, well, yeah those are skeletons.” She turned back around to face the oncoming mob. “Looks like twenty or so. A little hard to count with the bony bastards all bunched up like that.”

  Rana slipped her axes into their sheathes on her hips and pulled the quarterstaff off of her back where she’d tied it. Lilit pulled out her mace and stepped forward with the others. That many skeletons would take all of them if they wanted to avoid anyone getting overwhelmed.

  Just then, Lilit could begin to make out the shape of the skeletons rushing out of the dark. Bobbing above their heads was the name Skeletal Raiders Lvl 1. Moments ter they crashed upon the party like a wave. Awenda leapt forward, swinging her hammer in a huge arc that took down several skeletons at once. She let out a loud roar and the rest of the skeletons rushed in her direction, cmoring to get to her.

  Lilit and Rana circled around to come at the mob from the sides. Izumi stayed behind Awenda and started bsting her wand into the mob. At first her aim was a little off and she just blew holes in ribcages and knocked off a few arms or legs here and there. It took her a few moments to adjust how she was aiming the wand so she could target skulls.

  By that time Lilit was stepping forward, swinging her mace into unsuspecting skeletons. The first went down with a single swing to the head, bone shards sent splintering into nearby skeletons. This seemed to get their attention as three skeletons turned to target her all at once.

  Lilit danced back, pulling her small group of skeletons away from the rger mob. Looking over, Awenda was practically mowing them down with her sweep move. Lilit just hoped she didn’t exhaust her stamina that way. Hopefully they had a chance to rest and recover after this.

  The first skeleton to reach her swung its rusty axe at Lilit’s face. She lifted her arm up to bck the blow and swung her mace out underneath it, shattering the skeleton at the hip. The upper body nded at her feet, and Lilit stomped on the skull with all she had. The crunch of bone shattering was satisfying, but the next skeleton had already reached her. She had to hope that her quick stomp had done the job.

  This time, Lilit decided to smite the skeleton. It was undead, and she figured her holy magic would be extra harmful to it. She forced some of her mana down her arm and into her mace before swinging it at the skeleton in front of her as she skipped to the side to avoid an overhead swing of its broadsword. She hadn’t had the best aim as she was leaping out of the way, so her mace ended up striking the skeleton in the ribs, breaking off half of the bones on that side. But as the mace struck, a fsh of light erupted from the point of impact and quickly spread over the skeleton. More than half the skeleton seemed to fsh fry away in an instant, then it just crumbled to the ground in several pieces and stopped moving. Good to know.

  By then the third skeleton had already begun to swing its sword at Lilit. She barely managed to put her shield arm in pce to stop the strike. She felt her whole arm vibrate painfully as she took the strike on squarely instead of redirecting it at an angle. Instead of stepping forward, Lilit stepped back and shook out her arm to get the feeling back in her hand.

  The skeleton followed after her. She ducked to the side and smashed her mace into its shoulder, breaking the sword arm off of the skeleton. With her backswing, now that it was weaponless, she aimed higher and took its head clean off in a cloud of shattered bone fragments.

  Lilit looked back toward her group. She’d wandered quite a distance from everyone else as she danced away from her attackers. It looked like they were doing well though. Half of the mob y on the floor in pieces.

  She took a moment to catch her breath before she dashed back in and attacked her next victim. They went on like this for another few minutes, pulling small groups away from the rger horde of undead. Awenda crushing more than her share of skeletons as Lilit and Rana kept her from being overwhelmed and Izumi sniped from the back.

  Rana was like a whirlwind with her quarterstaff. She twirled it faster than Lilit could keep track of. She’d sweep skeletons off their feet, break bones, and crush skulls with fshes of fme dancing across the metal caps of the quarterstaff. Many of the broken skeletons lying on the ground were half scorched from her attacks.

  All too soon it was over. Lilit was left bent over panting. The fight hadn’t been long. In fact with their new weapons, the group had dispatched the entire hoard in less time than they had the smaller mobs in the training room.

  “Well…done…dies,” Lilit panted out. She stood herself up as her breathing slowed down. “Is everyone ok? I wasn’t able to track if anyone needed healing while we were fighting.” She looked around at the others, but everyone shook their head no.

  “Should we continue on then? Or should we take a minute to rest first?” Izumi asked, looking at Lilit.

  “I’m fine,” Lilit said a little angrily.

  Izumi held her hands up in surrender, “I was just asking.”

  “Rushing ahead before you’re ready will just get you hurt or worse,” Awenda added. “There is no shame in needing a few minutes to catch your breath and let your stamina bar recharge.”

  Lilit took a look at her stamina bar. It was already above halfway again. “I really am fine. I know I’m not going to be a heavy hitter or anything. So, as long as you’re all there to help I should be ok.”

  They took a few minutes to go through all the loot that had been dropped. It was a nice change of pace from the training room. The items dropped were of better quality than what had been in the bullywug swamp. The amount of gold was higher as well. They split the loot and weight the best that they could. Awenda volunteered to carry the bulk of the weight, but no one would let her since she already had on so much armor. She carried the team in a lot of ways already and it didn’t seem fair to ask her to carry more.

  After that they made their way further into the rge hall. They stuck to the wall, and if they moved a little more quickly between the pools of light, no one was there to judge them. A few hundred feet away they found the crypts the skeletons must have come from.

  There were alcoves cut into the wall where the bodies had been id to rest. There were a few items the skeletons had left behind. Mostly what would have been sentimental items, but there was one health potion that they gave to Izumi. So, they made sure to search all the alcoves carefully but quickly.

  There were more alcoves across the hall on the opposite wall. They could see them in the pool of light cast by the torches. They debated whether or not they were worth crossing the room for. Lilit was in favor, more loot was always good. Izumi of course was game. Rana was neutral about it, and didn’t care either way. Awenda was more cautious, but eventually gave in to Izumi’s excitement.

  So, they marched across the long hall and nothing bad happened. They raided the alcoves, this time not finding much of anything. Lilit and Izumi were disappointed of course.

  As they were setting out they heard the distinct sound of clicking and ccking again. It appeared that another mob of skeletons was on its way to attack them. They fell back into their formation and waited by the alcoves.

  A few minutes ter the horde of skeletons came rushing out of the shadows. This group was a little bit rger, but the party didn’t have any problems taking them down either. Lilit found herself huffing and panting at the end of the fight. This time she didn’t argue about taking a few minutes to let her stamina refill and catch her breath.

  They once again collected and split the loot. Then headed further down the hall. They ran into two more hordes of skeletons, each a little rger than the st. They also found the crypts the skeletons crawled out of. They found a stamina potion in one of them, and the entire group agreed that Lilit should carry it.

  “Is anyone hurt this time?” Lilit called out while everyone started looting the test group.

  Rana lifted her arm to inspect her side. “I took a hit to my ribs, but it doesn’t look like it pierced the leather. Just a little tender.”

  “Let me fix that for you. No reason to not be fully healed with me here.”

  “I don’t want you to waste the mana. It’s not that bad.” Rana argued.

  “It’s fine. I have tons of mana and it’s not like I’ve had to use very much of it so far.” They stared at each other silently for several moments.

  “Fine.” Rana dropped her eyes. “Thank you.”

  Lilit pulled out her prayer book. She flipped it open and chanted the healing prayer. A soft golden light she hadn’t been able to see in the sunlight before enveloped Rana for a moment. Then she took a deep breath, obviously without pain.

  “Thank you,” this time she was much more appreciative.

  “No problem,” Lilit said bashfully. “I’m here to help.”

  Rana looked at her with some tenderness in her eyes. Lilit blushed and quickly turned away to help the others finish looting.

  Not too much further down the hall they finally came to the exit. It was a rge double door that stood some twelve feet tall, fnked with burning torches. It was yered in a dark, tarnished gold. It wasn’t until they got closer that Lilit was able to make out the designs etched into the door.

  There were several yers of etchings. On the bottom were marching skeletons. Above that were several robed figures with something dripping from their bodies. Above that were rows of rotting corpses rising up. Above that were hunched creatures with rge gaping maws and sharp cws. Near the top of the doors were a pair of figures. One on each door. A woman was on the right hand door, and a man on the left. Both were dripping something from their bodies like the people several rows below. On each of their heads rested crowns. At the very top of the door was a single hooded and cloaked figure. Inside the hood was a skull leering down at them.

  “That gives off major creepy vibes,” Izumi commented quietly.

  “No kidding,” Lilit all but whispered back.

  “What do you think it means?” Awenda asked.

  “I don’t know, but we need to go through them. Want to do the honors Da?” Rana asked.

  “Don’t call me that, please.”

  “Sorry, no problem. Want to do the honors Awenda?”

  Awenda nodded her head and silently stepped forward. She braced her hands on one of the doors and began pushing it open. This door opened silently and easily. Awenda looked a little startled at how quickly the door opened for her.

  Inside was another circur room like the one they’d entered the dungeon through. The group followed behind Awenda into the room. It was lit with the same mysterious glow near the ceiling. This room though had one slight difference. On each side was a small fountain spshing with water in an alcove.

  Just then everyone’s Delver alerted. Lilit pulled hers up to read the announcement. This is a safe zone. The water in safe zones is safe to drink. Rest, recharge, regroup, and strategize.