Dungeon Fighting monsters and fulfilling quests was all in a days work for a adventurer. Cecilia was more than used to it by now. She had met several people, learned and grew with time and training, and found others that had ambitions similar to her own. Cecilia was often getting pulled away from her own personal training and goals by her new position in the military. It was not quite as bad as she had originally thought though. So far she was steadily if slowly improving in all the areas she felt she needed to. Of course, the future would require much more growth on her part. Cecilia could only imagine how much power it must take to create or destroy a world. To actually re mold it to your wishes. Simple training was just a way to be relevant in the adventuring world not for what she hoped to attain. Today she had a quest to deliver a specific set of monster drops. It was the basic kind of fetch quest. At the very least, Cecilia was able to get some more sword practice in at the cost of the many monsters in the dungeon. It was sad actually. Why did the monster attack so foolishly when they were outmatched? It was almost as if the entire dungeon was artificial. To Cecilia anyway.The dungeon was full of monsters that held shards that helped power things in Orario and elsewhere. Then there was floor eight with it's giant soul stone. It was so very mysterious but also redundant at the same time. "Frog tongue. Five of them. Maybe the requesty is a witch. Hopefully not a evil one. Although I doubt it based on this list of disgusting things Eyes, tongues, claws... I couldn't make a more witch like list if I tried... just needs a newt tail... oh there it is.." Cecilia spoke to herself as she checked the list with one hand and sliced her sword through a monster with her other. Putting away the list she focused on tongue removal. It was important because monsters had the tendency to vanish after death. So if a part is not broken off it is likely to vanish with the monster. Sadly, this happened sometimes even if you dismembered a foe. This led to many a angry or frustrated adventurer. The Guild does not always iforn people about such things, you just sort of... learn it. A swift beheading followed by a chopping of a wagging tongue. Then another and another. Poor frogs. Cecilia did not care to inflict pain on others but truly she was not even sure if these monsters could feel. They just seemed like something not alive to her.There was no ecosystem here. It was just kill or be killed. How horrible. Cecilia realized that to some extent that is how many humans thought to, even up above. So much needed fixing. Why was all this even allowed anyway? Cecilia dropped her ninth frog and got her fifth tongue. Time for more hunting... Claws would be coming from lizards and eyes from various sources. Cecilia found it easy to go throughout the dungeon between floors one and eight and build up her stashes. She remembered how difficult it once was. Her skill and abilities were growing, as well as her knowledge of the dungeons self made rules. A long journey was still ahead. This such a baby step, but it felt good to notice the improvements. Soon she would challenge herself with a task beyond anything she had yet done. Slaying the Ant Queen alone. This was coming soon but she felt still the need to grow. This quests ease was making her feel more than ready though. Kobolds, Goblins, Frogs, Ants, Shadows, it was almost time to join the front lines and face new, stronger things. It just was not worth doing this to much more. Cecilia felt she may just hit a ceiling without more pressuring battles. Perhaps if multiple Gnolls could be fought at once. That would be difficult and allow her to advance. Perhaps too, should she go speak with her god Odin and gather information she had been seeking. It was still not the time, but indeed it was approaching. More monsters met death. Cecilia really was getting a kill count going. It really was not something she seeked to do but it was necessary for her quest. At the entrance to floor seven Cecilia wiped of her blade with her cloth. Seething it she looked to the list. Great, everything but a newt tail. That was not to be found no matter what she killed so far. Was it a floor eight or beyond drop? Did she actually have to leave and go find a real newt out in the wilderness? The thought made her smile. This would be the first time the items for a quest were not just a drop... or not. She decided to head to floor eight and avoid the Ant Queen for now. Using the usual anti ant tactics she made it with minimal difficulty. They were extremely large in number but very, very one trick enemies. Upon reaching the usually bright and peaceful floor eight. Cecilia would be surprised to see it was as dark as night. The soul stone not shone like a pale moon in the dark valley before her. It still felt just like outside but now it was as if the dungeon also had day and night cycles on this floor. This was truly something that wowed Cecilia. Perhaps ecosystems were possible here, but for some reason the monsters are exempt from it. Again, it was puzzling. "Wal whut does yo' know? Hey thar Ceci! Fry mah hide! Whar is th' trimenjus guy? Cecilia did not even have to look to know who was speaking. It seemed they were much stronger than she thought they were or they were even more advanced. She never really asked or saw them fight. They did not give off the same kind of superior experience s Korra and Kessler from some time ago though... "Hi. It had been a while hasn't it? Wow, what are you guys doing down here?" The question kind of just came out. Cecilia felt a slight blush as she realized she accidentally revealed how curious she was of another's power. "Damion's not with me all the time Virginia. He barely needs to be a support anymore." Virginia and her partner were at a tiny camp they seemed to have built for themselves. A tent and a campfire. It had a distantly foreign look that made Cecilia wonder if one or both of them originated much farther from Orario then she thought. It was not that surprising if it was true. Orario pulled in many peoples who thought themselves adventurers. "Hahahaha. Durn it! Yo' thunk we c'dn't han'le this? Pore gal yo' got a lot t'larn! Fry mah hide! Acshully it's yo' thet is th' surprise. Yo' came this hyar far by yer lonesome? Hahaha, nevah thunk of doin' thet mahse'f. Eh don't pow'ful fit mah style though. Daxten does all grunt wawk unless ah gotta give a fine kickin' mahse'f! Fry mah hide! Right Daxten?" The large quiet man just shrugged with a smile and continued to cook some meet over the fire. Cecilia would then realize that adventurers may be stronger on the whole then she thought. How often was it that she encountered people down here that were either stronger or just a strong as she? Perhaps that was changing slowly buit it was depressing to think that her improvements were still not enough to surpass even basic questers. Of course whether these two were basic was up for debate. Cecilia decided to join the two for a dungeon meal, her first ever and a strange experience. It unsettling just how like the outdoors this was. Virginia told her that they ate here several times before and that it was kind of a routine. This meant that they were ready for this floor for some time. Cecilia tasted the meet Daxten cooked. It was pretty good. He had seasoned it with a distinct flavor she never had before. Finally she would just come out and ask where they were from exactly. "Huh? Oh... haha. Somewhar o' other. We isn't fum Orario obviously. We prefer not t'talk abut. Daxten has a past he don't like gwine back to." So they were outcasts maybe? Virginia did not seem to want to talk about it and Daxten made a foul look. Cecilia while now even more curious decided it best not to pry. Everyone had their own sad story in this unfair world. Cecilia would enjoy a calm night in a dungeon with the two. In the faux morning created by the soul stone. The noble would prepare to depart. She still needed a newt tail and this was the first time she was down here for overnight. Virginia and Daxten would head another way. Maybe they were grinding down here too? For multiple days? Cecilia thought to ask Damion if he would like to do something like this sometime. It would require night watches and many supplies but if it helped improve Cecilia's strength, it was something to try. Well, it was time to leave and find a newt tail somewhere else....
