Chapter 2
In the Dungeon, the deeper you go the stronger the monsters get. However, on floors 18, 50, and 75 there are safe zones, or floors clear of monsters. Alduin and the others are heading for the safe zone on floor 18.
"How much longer," asked Alfred, in a pestering manner.
"I Believe we're almost there, Mister Stronoff," answered Leafalia.
Suddenly the walls started to shake. Then 10 minotaur's burst out of the walls.
"Ambush," exclaimed Messor.
` The 10 minotaur's surrounded the group, cutting off all exits.
Quickly Torva says, "Blastwave", suddenly a shock wave expanded from Torva's body, stunning the minotaur's, bringing them down to their knees.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Alfred and Cliff both draw their great swords. Alfred and Cliff charge the 4 minotaur's in the back. Torva being a battle mage, pulls out her dagger, confronting 2 of the minotaurs. Leafalia and Messor face another 2 of the minotaur. This left 2 for Alduin to deal with. Not needing to dull his blade this early into an expedition, on such low-level monsters. Alduin raised his fist preparing to fight. After defeating her first minotaur, Torva looked behind herself at Alduin and thought, "Is he suicidal". Alduin charged at the first minotaur, punching through his chest, on the other side of the minotaur Alduin was holding his soul crystal in his hand. As the minotaur disintegrated, Alduin threw a roundhouse kick at the second minotaur, sending its head flying, killing it immediately. When Alduin looked behind at the others to see how they were doing, he saw Messor and Leafalia fighting. Messor was using his staff to block the club of one of the minotaur, while Leafalia was chanting a spell. But the minotaur charged before she finished chanting, panicking Leafalia abandoned the spell and tried to hit the minotaur with her staff. As the minotaur hit her staff, it flinched her, leaving her open to an attack. As the minotaur pulled back to attack, Alduin grabbed one of the weapons dropped by one the minotaur's he defeated. When the minotaur swung its weapon, Alduin threw the club at the minotaur. The club passed close by Leafalia, and ultimately hit directly on the minotaur's head. After all the minotaur's were dead, they returned to where they were originally attacked.
"That seems to be the last of them," said Alduin.
Leafalia approached Alduin.
"What is it Leafalia," asked Alduin
"Thank you for saving me, Mister Alduin," said Leafalia.
"There's no reason to thank me, as long as your safe it's fine, also drop the mister, were equals," stated Alduin.
"Yes, I'm sorry," said Leafalia.
"Alright, lets head out, floor 18 is right only two floors down now," stated Torva.
The group continued until they reached floor 18.
Once the group reached Floor 18 it was almost 10 hours since they entered the dungeon and they were getting tired.
"Alright, let's take a break for a while we can, we will head deeper tomorrow," said Torva.
"That sounds good to me, but I still don't know what our mission even is," stated Alduin.
"I guess now is as a good time as any, we are tasked with investigating a new section recently discovered on floor 16," said Torva.
"Very interesting, are there any new monster variations," asked Alduin.
"No, at the moment it seems as if it had always been there; however, we know it must be new, it was discovered only three days ago," stated Torva.
"Never the less, set up camp, for now, we can discuss this more tomorrow," said Torva, quickly shutting down the conversation.
Alduin cut his losses and left to set up camp on the far right of the campsite. While there was a small town of adventurers on floor 18, the inn price was so high, that they might as well build their own house in the dungeon.
"There is a lake nearby, it would be nice to get a proper bath in," thought Alduin.
After much walking, Alduin passed through a thick line of brush, which hid the lake.
"Finally found the lake," said Alduin.
Alduin removed his clothing, then wrapped a towel around himself, and went into the lake. The lake was almost like a hot spring because crystals in the center of the lake reflect off those at the top of the floor, in turn, they heat up the lake, making it quite relaxing. It was quiet and peaceful until Leafalia came tumbling through the brush further down the bank of the river. At first, Alduin was surprised and then he noticed she was already only wearing a towel.
"That moron, these forests are full of thorns, is she trying to show her body off to every adventurer on floor 18," thought Alduin.
Leafalia entered the lake, sending out a sigh of relief, Alduin understood that feeling. Alduin thought hard about it and decided to stay behind the rock and try to talk to her.
"Leafalia," called Alduin.
"Mister Alduin is that you, where are you," asked Leafalia.
"I am bathing," said Alduin.
"Wait you tried to bathe while I was in the water," asked Leafalia, who was now flustered.
"Actually, you jumped in while I was in here," said Alduin.
"It's fine though, I'll take my leave, enjoy a bath," said Alduin before Leafalia could insist otherwise.
"What the hell are you getting flustered for," thought Alduin, as he made his way to the bank unseen.
Once Alduin left the lake, he reequipped his armor and walked back to camp. Torva, Messor, and Cliff were already making dinner. Alduin walked up to Torva and the others.
"Do you require any assistance," asked Alduin.
"Thank you, but we have this handled, it will be another hour till dinner is ready," said Torva over the cooking pot.
Not having anything else to do Alduin heads back to his tent. Alduin's tent was about as basic as you could get; it was literally a green bag with a buttoned-down flap for a door. Alduin wasn't one for "Luxury", he had more than enough money or vials to purchase a quality tent but to him it was unnecessary. Alduin approached his tent and opened the flap. Inside there was only a carving knife, a small sleeping mat, and the only personal item he brought, which was a leather-bound book written in the language of the gods(Dovazhul).
Alduin laid down on the mat and closed his eyes. After about 50 minutes, there was a rustling in the bushes near his tent. Alduin opened his eyes; immediately alert. He quickly looks over to see his carving knife sitting next to him. Alduin grabs and draws the knife from its leather holster. Then Leafalia's head peaks out from the bushes. Seeing that he had his knife drawn she recoiled, realizing she had forgotten to announce herself. Alduin now assured there was no danger put down his knife.
"I would be more careful about announcing yourself before approaching me," said Alduin.
"S-S-Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," said Leafalia, while having a knife drawn at her did frighten her. It was reassuring to her to know that even someone like Alduin got startled.
"What is it you want," asked Alduin.
"Miss Torva asked me to fetch you for dinner, Sir Alduin," Answered Leafalia.
"I thought I told you to stop calling me Sir," said Alduin, annoyed.
"Yes, of course, I'm sorry," said Leafalia
"No matter, I am ready to go," said Alduin.
Alduin and Leafalia left the tent and headed towards the other tents.
"Alduin, I've been wondering why you set your tent so far away from the others," asked Leafalia.
"Mostly because it's much quieter," replied Alduin.
Leafalia knew there was more to it than that, but she let it go for now. As Leafalia, and Alduin entered the clearing the others used to set up camp, they saw Torva, Messor, and Cliff sitting by the fire.
"Ah, Leafalia, you're back, and you brought Alduin with you," said Torva.
Suddenly Alfred came stumbling out of his tent towards the fire. Alfred sat down across from Alduin next to Cliff.
"Great, now that we're all here we can eat," said Torva, already making servings.
Alduin sat and ate while the others shared stories from their past adventures.
"When I left the Great Forest, my parents wished me luck, and then I came to Oratoria and joined the Ouranos familia," said Leafalia.
Alfred and Cliff were both taken aback by her story. Alduin wasn't paying attention, so he simply ate in silence.
"Since you seem so keen on being antisocial, tell me Alduin where are you from," asked Torva.
Alduin was surprised at first by this, for a moment he didn't know what to say.
"I come from a land far away from the dungeon, unlike Oratoria the plains are vast mountain ranges, and it is always cold," said Alduin.
"Tell me what the name of the town is," said Torva.
"Its name was Vul-Strunmah, that is where I was born," said Alduin.
Alduin has to be careful, Zeus wanted his presence in the human world to go unnoticed because Vul-Strunmah was another name for limbo, which was where Alduin lived when Zeus resided in heaven.
"I see, that is God Tongue if I am not mistaken," said Torva.
"Yes, that is correct," said Alduin. Alduin opened his satchel, and grabbed the leather-bound book he brought, and read, "aal vul strunmah jaaril hi (may the dark mountains protect you)," said Alduin. He put the book back into his bag.
The group was amazed, only gods and a chosen few had were taught how to learn the God Tongue.
"Tell me Alduin, did Zeus teach you that," asked Torva.
"No; However, God Tongue is my first language," said Alduin.
"Very interesting, Mr. Alduin," said Torva.
Alduin glared at Torva but said nothing. Their glares were like a battle all to themselves.
"Alduin, I have a question," asked Leafalia.
"By all means, please ask away," said Alduin, who had turned back to normal.
"Do you happen to have a lover," asked Leafalia, who immediately got embraced.
Alduin was shocked by the boldness of the question and by something else as well. Torva looked over at Leafalia with a grin on her face.
"Yes, I did," replied Alduin.
"Did, so what happened, did she leave you," asked Torva, who was only teasing.
Torva had meant this as a tease; However, they soon saw a look on his face that can only be described as pure rage. This rage, however, was not focused towards Torva and the others.
"Sorry, I was being intrusive," said Torva apologetically.
"There is nothing to be sorry about, it has simply been a while since I thought about what happen that day if you still wish to know I will tell you," said Alduin, who looked much calmer now.
"Yes, we want to know," said Leafalia.
Leafalia had to know his story, not to mention that she was very sad when she heard he had a lover.
"Her name was Melie (Melinoe, goddess of ghost), she was an important member of Vul-Strunmah; the first time we meet she tried to kill me though," said Alduin.
"Quite a unique love story," said Torva.
"Yes, quite right; after a while, she started to tolerate me, and eventually she came to like me as I liked her. However, since I was in the service of Zeus it made things complicated," said Alduin.
"You too sounded close; what happened, if you don't mind me asking," said Messor.
"You see Melie was the only person to get close to killing me, and since I was in service of Zeus, and Melie was not, some feared that if we were to marry then she would join Zeus. They believed this would change the balance of Vul-Strunmah. To keep that from happening they killed her, taking her out and in turn breaking me, quite an effective plan if I do say so myself," said Alduin.
The group was taken aback, they knew something had happened, but they didn't expect she was murder.
"Sorry, I had no idea," said Messor.
"Don't be sorry, this happened many years ago," said Alduin.
"You're not that old, you're at most thirty," said Torva.
"Sorry to break the illusion, but this happened 30(million) years ago," explained Alduin.
Now the other was really shocked. They knew he was older than he seemed, but now it sounded like he was at least fifty.
"Wait, just how old are you," asked Leafalia.
"I'm 45 (actually 65 million)," said Alduin.
"while thirty years may seem like a long time to you, it is only a fraction of my life, I was given a special body, that drastically raises my lifespan (lie)," said Alduin.
"Truly unique, regardless it's about time we clean up and go to sleep, we have a long day ahead of us," said Torva.
The group stood up and said thanks to Torva and Messor for dinner.