Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-One - Uprooted

Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-One - Uprooted

Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-One - Uprooted

The moment I was able to sneak my hand closer to the core in the centre of the core room, everything became a lot easier.

There was enough ambient mana in there that my mana reserves started to tick up, a point every ten seconds or so instead of once a minute. That just meant I had more mana to pour into Cleaning magic.

I pressed my free hand up against one of the little roots blocking the entrance. It started to fall apart as my Cleaning magic got to work. The root snapped, and I moved on to the next one below it.

Is there anything we can do to help? Lieutenant Petalwrought asked.

I dont think so, I said. Sorry! Id love to have some help, and if there was something I could ask for help with I would, but... yeah, this is just going to take a little bit.

Another root snapped, and I noticed the entire body of the Evil Roots shifting very slightly. Did it know that I was harming it? I asked myself, not for the first time, if the Evil Roots could think. If they could, did they know that they were hurting the dungeons they were grabbing onto?

My mana bounced up and down as I waited for it to refill a bit, then used it all up on cutting apart the roots blocking the entrance. Eventually, I had a space that was big enough to crawl through. I think Im going to climb through, I said.

A dungeons core is high in mana, Lucille warned. Unless youre spending all of it, constantly, then theres a very real chance that you can hurt yourself.

Yeah, I said. But thats what I plan on doing. Flood the entire room with enough Cleaning magic that the Evil Roots dont have a choice but to fall back. Its easier to do if I can use the cores own magic for it. Besides, look, its regrowing.

I tugged on one of the smaller roots and showed it to the others. The tip of it was still a little raw where my magic had cut through it, but it was turning a paler shade of green and it looked as though the root was starting to grow back.Cheêck out latest novels at novelhall.com

Interesting, Aria said. Its growth rate must be spectacular. Thats... perhaps two or three milimetres a minute, at a guess. Id need a ruler and some way of marking its progress over time to be certain.

The roots cover a large portion of the entire dungeon, Amaryllis said. They would need to grow quickly to do that. I imagine various parts of the root network grow at different paces.

Im going to write so many papers from this, Aria said with obvious glee. Lady Albatross, Lady Bristlecone, youve experienced other dungeons plagued by these roots, correct? Ah, good. Could you tell me about them? Maybe how those ... infections ... differed from this one?

I listened with half an ear as my friends related their stories for some of the other dungeons wed explored together. Aria took notes, of course.

Once I had an opening that was wide enough, I climbed up into it after tossing my pack aside and handing Weedbane to one of the knights. I had to slip my head and shoulders in first, then I hoped that the sylph behind me were all gentlemen as I squeezed my hips through the passage.

I landed in a roll on the other side and found the ground covered in those big flat leaves that the roots seemed to only grow around a core. Were they like leaves facing sunlight, but instead of sunlight they were fixed on the core?

Did that mean that the core was radiating mana directly? It did glow a bit.

That was worrisome. I didnt know that much about radiation, but I recalled it being pretty scary, and usually if it was radioactive enough to glow, then seeing it wasnt good for you.

Well, an issue for later.

I pushed out a wash of Cleaning magic around me, breaking up a circle of the leaves, then as more and more mana gathered in me from being closer to the core, I started to fill the room with Cleaning magic.

Well have to trust you, then, the lieutenant said.

I mean, you should verify anyway. Maybe send someone down tomorrow to see if there are any more roots poking into the room, I said.

He nodded. Ill inform the Knight-Captain and the other knights.

I might want to see that, Aria said. If the roots are still here tomorrow, then theres a chance theyll be falling apart, or degrading. Even if theyre completely gone or remain as they are, Ill want to see. Itll be important to know moving on... and for my papers too.

Speaking of higher-ups, Amaryllis said. We should head out. Im somewhat tired of being in a dungeon, and I think were due a payment soon for services rendered. Though I imagine well only see that once were back at the capital.

Everyone seemed to agree with that. I think we were all a bit tired. What time had it been when we entered the dungeon? Early afternoon? I couldnt even begin to tell what time it was now. Some of the floors had felt like they went on forever. Had we been here for a couple of hours, or nearly a whole day? I couldnt even guess by feeling how sleepy I was.

The exit is right through here, Lieutenant Petalwrought said. He walked over to the last unopened door in the bedroom. Before we go, he said with a hand on the handle. I want to say that it was an honour working with you all. Though most of you come from varied backgrounds and occupations, you all comported yourselves with dignity.

I knew that pride wasnt a very nice emotion most of the time, but I still puffed out my chest at his words. Thank you. Im glad we all got to become friends.

There were a few chuckles, and Awen bumped her shoulder against mine.

Then the door was opened and we filed through it. A tunnel awaited us on the other side. Just a few metres in, and I recognized it as the same one we used to enter the dungeon. And then we were out.

A lone knight, in only half the armour as the others and with a spear by his side snapped to attention as he saw us entering the room. Sir Petalwrought, sir! he said at volumes that might have been a bit much for indoors.

Hello, squire, the knight said. Can you inform the Knight-Captain of our success?

Yes, sir! the squire shouted back. Right away, sir. The Knight-Captain is in the upper debriefing room, sir.

That was a lot of sirs. This boy took himself very sir-iously. I giggled, then worked hard not to laugh when Amaryllis shot me a look. Nevermind. Itll just make you angry if I explain.

She just rolled her eyes

I believe everyone but our knights should come, the lieutenant said. Unless you gentlemen have anything important to add? he directed the last to the knights.

They shook their heads, and I imagined they were all eager to get out of that armour and into a bath. One of them handed me back Weedbane, and I thanked him with a cheery smile before tucking the scythe on my shoulder.

Very well then, please follow me once more, everyone, the lieutenant said.

We moved through the castle, and past a small courtyard at the back. The sky was that dark blue that only came about when the sun was about to set, which answered one of my questions, at least.

Too tired to chat, we tromped up the stairs to the next floor where a bunch of generals and important riff-raff were waiting for us.

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