Dakota Krout - Dungeon Born (The Divine Dungeon Book 1)

“Wide awake already! It’s almost like someone taught you good habits by soaking you with a bucket of ice water.” Hans glibly mentioned, deftly swiping Dale's toast.

“Humph.” Dale grumped.

Hans shook his head, “The plight of the young! Morning is such a horrible time to be awake! Are you not pleased that you are going to be cheating your way into the next ranking series?” He seemed serious suddenly. “I know that three thousand gold is a lot to give up. I’m sure you could change your mind.”

“That’s right, that’s today!” Dale's mood brightened considerably. “It will take me four ranks higher than I currently am, and my spiral will look like the design you all have, correct?”

“It is called a ‘fractal’ and is something you would have learned how to do over several months to avoid hurting yourself.” Hans consideringly mentioned, “I’m actually wondering how he plans to get around that, just knowing how to do it isn’t enough.”

“We’ll find out soon enough, I’m sure.” Craig appeared behind them. “I don’t suppose you would reconsider this, Dale? I have heard that this process is at least as painful as getting your Essence stripped.”

Dale looked stricken for a moment. “Of course it is.” He breathed, “Now they tell me.” He shook his head; this day was going downhill so fast. He stood up and decided to go… somewhere. Really, he had no hobbies or job anymore. Every day was an amalgamation of fighting or training to fight. What was the endgame?

Dale sat back down with a sigh as he tried to relax. Hans looked at his depressed friend, and took pity on him. “Dale, what’s the matter my friend?”

“I don’t know. Everything I used to do seems so simplistic now. I fight and fight, but for what?” Dale replied, not really expecting an answer.

“Well that makes sense, you are smarter than you used to be. Quite a bit smarter too I would assume.” Hans told him with enthusiasm. “You rarely see smart people happy to live a humble life.”

“What? All I do is fight all day! Sure I know more about fighting, but that doesn’t really make me smarter…” He trailed off as Hans shook his head.

“Mph nhpo yokrk eddsenve is-” Hans started, blasting crumbs out of his mouth.

Dale made a disgusted face, “Not with your mouth full please. That’s nasty.”

“Ha,” Hans quickly swallowed, “It's because your Essence is able to purify your body. No longer fighting against blocked channels, your body gets stronger, faster, and your brain is a part of that. A healthy mind makes more connections, allowing you to experience the world on a deeper level than you could before. You will see how things link together, and be able to see how one action affects another. There are people who do that as a profession you know.”

“Really?” Dale was exceedingly interested.

“Yup.” Hans disclosed, eating more toast. “Sstpotters.” He finished around the mouthful, spitting several crumbs out.

“Spotters? That sounds about right.” Dale laughed at Hans’ disdain for the group.

“Well, really everyone does. Other professions just use those connections in a practical way. Like a fire Mage knowing that melted sand makes glass, and that some sand is better for it than others.” Hans extrapolated, “The more connections that you understand, the faster your power will grow, which is why being a Spotter is so appealing to many.”

“What will I be able to do though?” Dale insisted earnestly.

Hans shrugged, “Whatever you like. First you need to see where your talents lie within the earth. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, and the uses for Essence are endless.”

Dale deflated again, “So it comes down to waiting again.” He grumped sourly.

Hans laughed a dark laugh, “Welcome to life, kiddo! Where you need to work for everything worth having, and anyone trying to give you a handout is just waiting to use you until you are useful to them.”

Craig spoke up then, “That’s a dark outlook, Hans. No matter how true it may be. Dale, when you reach the D-rankings, you will be able to exert control over your element. I will teach you then, as we had always planned to do. It seems it will be years sooner than we thought it would be, though. Gaining control of your element is the best part of being a cultivator, in my opinion.”

A familiar face in the crowd of people grabbed Dale's attention as he was thanking Craig for his consideration. “Hey! Hans, is that… Madame? What is she doing here?”

“Yup, that is her all right. Annnnd, wel-l-l, she's prolly looking for us so she can yell at me.” Hans was barely understandable around the hemming and hawing.

Dale rounded on him dangerously. “...Why?”

“Remember how when we were there, at her restaurant, she was talking about starting one here? She would most likely have set up a deal with you right then.” Hans reminded him, “Well, she really hates not knowing what's going on. Since we didn’t tell her who you were, she’s likely pissed at you.”

“Why yes, she is pissed at you.” A deceptively soft, decidedly female voice hissed next to their ears. They had only taken their eyes off Madame for a moment, then she was behind them. Her hands clamped down on their shoulders, “Let’s talk about this outside, shall we?”

Dale and a stammering Hans were unceremoniously dragged outside while Craig carefully focused on his food, avoiding Hans and Dale’s pleading looks.

“Did you not like my food? Was my service subpar?” She interrogated them, a dangerous glint in her eye. “Why was it that you made me wait days to find out that the young adventurer that dined in my business was the owner of the land I so badly wanted to create a fine dining area upon?”

“Madame, your food was fit for a King!! We had just-” Hans promised.

With a glare Madame ended his babbling. “Not you. Him .” She nodded at Dale.

“Honestly? It was because I felt really bad, insulted that you had such a low opinion of me without even meeting me.” Dale boldly began. “You had no idea who I was, but you spouted mean gossip and cruel rumors.”

Hans gaped at him, mouth working silently as he shook his head. Madame turned red, eyes bulging out a bit.

* Whoo * Dale thought, thinking she was reminiscent of an owl when she did that.

Madame took a deep breath, Dale prepared himself to be lashed brutally by her words. “ That is… Fair I suppose.” She sighed in embarrassment, rubbing at her temples. “I haven’t left the city in years, I forget that not everyone enjoys gossip as the city folk do. Please know that I didn’t try to upset you, I was only trying to make conversation.”

A bit stunned by this turnaround, Dale stammered, “Uh. Don't worry about it.” All the heat and argumentation he had been building up to rushed away.

“If I didn’t ruin my chances, I would still like to create a Pleasure House in the area. My granddaughter will be joining the dungeon dives as a cultivator, and I want to stay busy while I keep an eye on her.” Madame humbly requested.

Dale sighed, now rubbing at his forehead “It’s fine, Madame. We’ll work out the details, but is ten percent to much to ask from you as tax? You’ll also need to build your own restaurant, but we’ll pick out the location later, I have an appointment to get to.”

“That will be just fine. Please, Madame is my title, my friends call me by name, and I would greatly enjoy being your friend.” The short lady proclaimed.