It didn’t take us too much longer to begin on the travel to the dungeon, during that time I just mentally thought through what I would be there for. Identifying the surges of mana was at the top of my duties during all of this, since I was really the only one to have that skill set. Whatever it was that caused the surges I was deeply interested, since a dungeon this young shouldn’t be able to make surges yet. So it either had some help, or there was more to all of this then I knew, both options frighten and excite in equal measures. If it is much farther in its development, then that means we won’t need to protect it much longer. On the same hand if it doesn’t need us that much, then it might stop bringing people back to life after death. Here is hoping that never happens, since it would be a massive hit to how the dungeon is perceived by everyone else. Though from what I know having kinda spoken with the dungeon, that doesn’t seem quite like their modus operandai.

  As we move I start to feel a shift in the energy around us, and it’s easy for me to tell from the pervasive mana that we are in the dungeon’s territory. Rather odd for me to feel all things considered since last time I was here it didn’t really reach far into a forest. The mana flowing around the area was a bit thin around here, making me think it was a recent addition to it all. It kind of sets me on edge non the less, since the dungeon had clear signs of wanting to grow beyond the downward progression some others took. Shaking my head I try and put that out of my mind, I can’t really focus on ideas like that, it isn’t good long term. For now it’s best to focus on what we came to find, and record the changes. So taking that in mind I pull out a notebook the guild master handed me before we left and began writing. I could feel the mana in the book even through the pen I was writing with. Brilliantly useful tool, A mirrored book, write something in one it appears in the other. Brilliant in its own right and useful beyond measure when you need to get information back asap. Rare as sin though, and frankly I don’t know how nor want to know how the guild master had 3 pairs of the things.

  We aren’t attacked on our way through the forest, though eventually me and my friends tense up as a feeling of being watched settle over us. The tension doesn’t last long, though our nerves are now on edge because that feeling means the dungeon knows we are here. It feels less malicious then most other dungeons I have been in, though really my comparison is filled with dragons and demons. It doesn’t take us too much more walking after that for the trees to begin thinning out. Catching glimpses between the trees I can see some rather amazing things, and the castle itself is most of it. It looks like someone is skipping a lot of steps and is building a ruin directly. There is an unfinished quality to it only a construction project has but it’s distinctly a ruin being built. As we slowly leave the treeline and get a more full view of everything I can’t help but make note of everything. The very fact a dungeon is this young and yet this aware of castles and also how they should look ruined. This is all very strange, I can almost believe the lie that the guild master is pushing at this point, since there is no other way.

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  Before I can think much farther into this line of ideas, a chill runs up my spine, and I quickly glance around. I know the feeling well and quickly get the other’s attention as they seem to feel something similar. The feeling is something that can only come from a few things, and the most likely culprit here is a powerful ghost.

  “Greetings wanderer,” a feminine voice spoke out, both in my, no our minds, and in the physical world. “what have you come seeking” It spoke again, and as it did I could start to make out the form of the ghost. Definitly feminine, young in most regards though dressed in what appears to be functional finery. A nobles scion if ever there was one.

  “What do you think we should say” Orkus directed the question at both Venos and me since this was well out of his wheel house. Venos for his part just looked at me and I gave a mild sigh.

  “Spirit, we have been tasked to look over the dungeon’s current state, we ask the dungeon to refrain from overly hostile actions during this time.” I slowly tighten my hands as I speak, my nerves on edge and my muscles ready to react faster then I could think. The dungeon seems very reasonable but I am worried about how that might have changed over the last bit of time. Along with the fact the dungeon doesn’t seem to against killing, just letting people stay dead. That makes me shudder a bit. There is a silent pause for a minute or two, as the ghost seems to be listening out for something for a long second. Then there is a wicked grin on their face.

  “Of course we are amenable to such an arrangement, but be aware” There is a distorition, like a flicker between what is and isn’t. A face hauntingly empty of form, loosing all that which makes a person recognizable. Eyes hollowed into black pits, sharp teeth in a smile larger then is possible, fingers elongated into sharp claws. Then just as quick the flicker is gone, the fairly normal looking ghost hovers before us. “any hostile action will be met in kind”