Black Mould - Fifteen - Thoughts of Great Risks and Greater Rewards

Black Mould - Fifteen - Thoughts of Great Risks and Greater Rewards

Black Mould - Fifteen - Thoughts of Great Risks and Greater Rewards

The first thing you need to know about dungeons, Stew said, shifting on his blankets to make himself more comfortable, is that they hate you.

What do you mean? I asked.

Stew grinned. I could tell he was enjoying himself. Then again, people liked being able to talk about something they knew about, more so when they were talking to someone genuinely interested in what they had to say.

Everything about a dungeon is hostile. The area around it will sap you of your energy unless youre resistant to it. The space within the dungeon is designed to lure you and your team into traps. Pitfalls, tripwires, sections that will cave in at a moments notice. Thats not even considering the monsters lurking in there.

I wanted him to tell me everything, but I had to start from somewhere. Tell me about the area around the dungeon; what did you mean by sapping your energy?

Stew rubbed at his chin with his good hand. Hard to describe. The area around a dungeon feels dry. If you can you see your system yet?

Yeah, I said.

Good, good. You know your mana total? When youre around a dungeon, itll stay wherever its at. No ticking up over time. Worse, if the dungeons parched, then you might start losing mana just from being close to the entrance. Once youre in, youre fine. Better than fine, really. The interior of a dungeon is rich in magic. I heard that once, entire forests felt that way.

That sounded dangerous. Does the dungeon use the mana?

He nodded. To replenish itself. You can tell that a dungeons reset when the pull decreases.

Okay, I said. I made a note to avoid the area. My mana ticked up very slowly, and I knew first-hand how awful it was to run out. I imagined that adults had a lot more than I did. Is there a way to avoid having your mana taken?

Stew hummed. A few ways. Some of us used to take mana potions before getting close to the dungeon. Top yourself off, so that the worst pull close to the entrance wouldnt affect you as bad. Mana potions arent instant, you know. But theyre expensive, and the cheaper ones will have you shi using the loo quite often.

I nodded for him to continue.

A few of the more magically-inclined had good enough control over their own mana to prevent the dungeon from taking any of theirs.

Oh? I asked. Could I learn that?

He chuckled. You could, but they were all older. Never saw a mage who could manage that who wasnt in his thirties.

Stew stared at me for a bit. Youve got the eyes of someone a lot older, he said. The soul too. I can feel it, you know? Something about you. I think youre going to be up to the worst sorts of mischief when you grow older, and I dont think I would mind seeing it.

I grinned. Why thank you, I said. So, how do the people who dive dungeons do it? Are there tactics? What kinds of skills do they have?

Stew laughed. One thing at a time, kiddo. One thing at a time.

I sat and listened to Stew prattle on for a good hour, but when my rear started to go numb and the little camp started to get a little more active, I decided it was best to head out. I thanked Debra, promised Stew Id bring him something next time, then I ran off.

My buoyant good mood only lasted as long as it took me to get close to home. I found Dad trudging his way back. He was holding onto a little bottle in one hand, and seemed a little dejected.

Dada! I called out before I ran over to him.

His face brightened for a moment, then he put on a frown. What are you doing out here? he asked.

Waiting for you, I lied.

He knew it, and I knew it, and we both agreed not to poke at it with a shared smile. He awkwardly took the bottle with his bad hand, then rubbed my head with his left. Little mushroom, he said.

Whats that? I asked with a gesture to the bottle. It stank of alcohol.

Something for the pain, he said. Dont worry about it.

Alright, I said. I really needed to find a way to help him. It gnawed at me, not being able to do something. How was work?

His dark mood returned, but just for a flash before he took a swig from the bottle. It was just beer, from the looks of it. Not a favourite of mine, not even when I was older. Its work. Hard, and not very fun. They put up that plate that I complained about, but it only stayed there for a few days. The night shift foreman took it off. Said it makes it take too long to oil up the rotors when they have to remove the plate every time.

Oh, I said.

Yeah. Larrys talking about unions again. I I know that theyre not good, but hes making a lot of sense.

I slipped my hand into his, then squeezed. I hoped that it would be a while before I grew too old for this kind of simple affection. Do what you think is right, I said.

He chuckled. What I think is right, huh? Yeah, I suppose thats one way to live your life well. Come on, I want to warm some water up for a nice bath. I think thats what would be right for me just about now.

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