Fian dealt with the effects of the spell better this time having experienced it once before when he had been banished to the underworld by Lord Ashton's minions.

He still didn't land on his feet

Fian got to his feet with a huff and ignored the smirk on the mentors face. How someone who had been dead for centuries could also be so annoying was one thing that he still hadn't understood.

They found themselves just outside the City of Terrarium. Powerful enchantments placed over the city ensured that who ever attempted to reach it by using magical means would find themselves outside the city. A necessary precaution that ensured that should any of the Hero's of the over world or neighboring Keepers attempt to invade the city they would not have their job made easier by finding themselves right in the heart of it. It also gave whichever Bandit or Keeper or who ever happened to be in control of the outskirts of the city a chance to charge a toll to who ever passed that way and also enabled them to relieve anyone carrying valuables the unnecessary worry of safe guarding them by simply appropriating them for themselves.

By the standards of the surface dwellers Terrarium was a fair sized city. All though over-run with various vile denizens of the underworld who were nearly always at each others throat and baying for each others blood a fair bit of trade and commerce did some how manage to go on there. As it was, it was a good place for a budding keeper to hire minions and get started. It was also an entry point for the various spies sent by the Lords who controlled much of the underworld.

"Well, Keeper" said the Mentor with just the slightest hint of condescension "We should probably get started if you want to reach the city today"

"All right then" Fian replied as he started towards Terrarium. Despite the apparently great distance he made quick time. One aspect of being a Dungeon Keeper that he had noticed in spite of the Mentor failing to mention it was that just as he could use mana to cast spells, create imps and power their actions he could also use it to enhance his own physical and mental abilities and enabled him to increase his physical strength beyond super human levels. Most keepers found this an interesting, some what fascinating phenomenon but none to important as they relied more on guile, cunning and treachery to survive rather than raw physical strength or sharp senses to survive and thrive.

Fian stopped short of the gate built into the wall that stood before him as a short squat and heavily built man who was obviously the guard inspected him from head to toe trying to decide how much gold he could extract out of him which depended entire on the influence he wielded in the under world society or the amount of money he possessed

A powerful figure such as a Dark Lord or a Dungeon Keeper could simply walk in without even bothering to stop at the gate as the guards made themselves scarce and did their best to remain out of sight. A rich person would be forced to pay a toll directly in proportion to his wealth. Fian did not seem to be either of them and the Mentor had chosen to remain discreetly out of sight as they neared the guard and so naturally the guard considered Fian beneath himself. It was a mistake he would soon pay for with his life.

"You" he called out in an annoyingly nasal voice with an odd twang to it "stop right there unless you want to end up dead" he continued oblivious of the mentors presence

. Fian stopped suddenly and stood motionless and stared at the guard coldly. "A hundred gold" the guard said either oblivious or accustomed to the look that Fian gave him.

"And what if I refuse to pay?" Fian said quietly.

The mentor tensed instinctively at this and was just about to remind Fian to be discreet when he composed himself. It would not do well to reveal his presence at this juncture and besides this would be a good time to see if the fledgling Keeper really had the guts it took to be a successful Keeper.

The Guard stared incredulously for a few seconds at the man who stood before him before finally managing to reply.

"Foolish man, Then you die!" he finally stuttered unused to being challenged by someone who looked so ordinary.

Fian stood his ground as the enraged guard charged towards him wielding a rusted and nicked short sword. The guard swung wildly at him with an overhead blow. Fian channeled the mana from his Dungeon Heart into his body and side-stepped a split-second before the blow would have connected and cleaved his skull open and caught the guard by the neck and snapped it just as easily as a child would snap a tender branch from a willow tree into pieces.

The mentor materialized besides Fian almost immediately and said "Nicely done, Keeper" as he took in the sight of the body of the man Fian had just killed.

Fian continued to stare at the motionless body of the man he had killed for a few more seconds before he replied. "Should we proceed?"

"Oh yes Keeper," the mentor replied. "The people who populate this city are of a distinctly unloyal breed. Rest assured they will not seek vengeance for their fallen comrade"

"Fine then" He replied quietly and stepped into the City of Terrarium, troubled by how easy it had been to kill the guard and the nonchalance with which he was able to do it.

The Mentor watched Fian enter the City as he thought to about the effects of the Dungeon Heart on the new Keeper's morality, mind and soul. "Soon he will be just as vile and evil as any other Keeper" mused the Mentor to himself as he finally started after Fian.

Or so he thought.