Chapter 1: Dum est spes uitae

We had been successful with our quest to find the missing adventurer party. Iona had been reunited with her sister. Her aunt and uncle had plenty to report to the guild. Me? I had no desire to spend any more time in this labyrinth.

All I wanted was a bath and to sleep in a real bed. Trust me. Dungeon delving lost quite a bit of its shine the first time I had to squat in the corner of some empty room to relieve myself. Thankfully, whatever magic that kept the air clean also disposed of our organic deposits. I'm not sure what the dungeon did with it, nor did I particularly care.

How did we do with the rest of our appointed tasks?

Leo and Karin both agreed that there was enough information to rank the dungeon’s first two levels. Unfortunately, this world did not have a safety net for adventurers like many older computer games. Players knew when they ventured into an unsafe area as creatures were color-coded based on their difficulty. For example, red for higher-level monsters, green for the same level, and white for an encounter below your level. So the need to scout this world’s dungeons was an important task given out by the guild.

As to the request from Captain Conrad, although the appearance of the basilisk could have been the cause, the increase in monster activity was to be expected with a living dungeon in the region.

Still, there was a lot to be done here, but any further requests would need to be made by either the guild or whoever they placed in charge. Right now, it would be impossible to convince me to do anything unless it had something to do with bathing.

Since Myra’s band had been running low on food, Leo thought it would be a good idea to feed everyone before we departed. While the new group happily finished off the rest of the basilisk stew, I jumped to the floor below to set up a few more surprises for our ratkin friends.

Since I was down there anyway, I also walked around the lake to find it truly empty. Strange, no monsters, nothing, but the bodies had definitely disappeared. Maybe the dungeon removed the dead to keep the water clean.

Now with everyone fed and watered and our wounded warrior in a litter carried by Leo and Amice, we began the long journey home.

“Are all A-ranked adventurers this…” Myra hesitated before finding the right word, “Cautious?”

At that moment, I had been tying a rope around my waist to get ready to jump to the other side of the stream. I still didn’t trust the bridge or the ledge above and wanted everyone to be attached to something before they crossed.

Karin interrupted my denial of being an A-ranked adventurer by replying flatly, “Only the living ones.”

I left three younger women cringing behind me as I leaped, safely landing on the other side of the trench. With the anchor rope set, Amice and Leo crossed next, carefully walking over the bridge. The rest of the party soon followed with Katilia being the last. I could tell she also felt uneasy as the scout gave the waterfall a nervous look before stepping on the bridge.

Thankfully we proceeded without incident.

“We encountered whatever killed Denis down that hallway.” Myra pointed towards the gem lit corridor.

“Room on the other side of the bronze doors?”

“Yes, Lady Eleanor.”

Karin turned towards her youngest niece and asked, “Did you mark it on the map Iona?”

“Yes, Auntie.”

After comparing the group’s maps, it came as no surprise that we missed quite a bit, although mostly hidden rooms and passageways. Myra’s party had been meticulous; the four of us, on the other hand, had been on a speedrun.

Reluctantly the group turned away with no requests to search for the dead. Everyone agreed, Warin’s welfare came first, especially with the knowledge that something lay in wait on the other side of the door. Another party would have to face the creature, but at least they would be forewarned.

Passing through the rest of the level using several hidden passageways, our party found itself standing in front of the door that would take us to the stairs.

“Why?” Myra asked, sounding heartbroken as the door opened with ease.

Leo looked at his wife before answering, “I think it’s because your band was not successful in passing through the bronze doors.”

Kaitlin groaned, “We needed to open the way to the third floor before the way to the first opened again.”

“Yes, that’s what we believe,” Leo agreed, “It’s something a few adventuring bands have run into in Ingsmouth, including our own.”

Another unexpected surprise greeted us upon entering the next room. Argus’s wrapped corpse had disappeared.

“The living labyrinth takes its due,” Karin whispered.

Most adventurer bands never returned with their dead. Gear and valuables would be either split amongst the party members or passed on to the families of the departed. So bones discarded weapons and armor were a common find in a typical dungeon.

In living labyrinths, dead adventurers eventually disappeared gear and all. Whole groups have vanished into their depths only for the missing party’s equipment to reappear in other parts of the dungeon. The bodies, however, were never recovered.

Warin’s healing had already brought a new sense of purpose to the group, increased further after he opened his eyes and spoke to Amice for a moment as we started to ascend the stairs. Now with the exit in sight, we almost had to tell Myra’s party to slow down. I could tell the three were waiting for something to stop us from exiting the dungeon. Thankfully, the half a dozen zombies I dealt with in the dining hall were the only monsters that barred our path.

“Careful!” Karin called out as we started to lift Warin through the hole in the ceiling of the cavern.

The two older C-ranked adventurers knew their business ordering the others around so everyone could make their way out of the dungeon safely.

Jumping up a rope, I levitated Warin past the unsteady rocks. With his fiancée and Leo keeping watch, I dropped back down. The remaining party members looked relieved. Everyone had a feeling that I needed to be the last one to leave the labyrinth.

Afterward, we headed up the hill towards the old campsite hidden under the overhanging rocks. It had been a long day for the four of us, and Myra’s party hadn’t slept in days.

After returning from warding the entrance, I found Leo and Amice waiting for me.

“My lady, will Gwefrydd carry a litter?“ Leo asked politely.

My three companions had, unfortunately, drifted back to the more formal way of speaking to me. Still a good question, probably, I think.

“I’ll have to summon him and see.”

Amice looked surprised, “Summon, Lady Eleanor?”

Karin joined us and answered, “Gwefrydd is her spirit mount.”

“Oh,” the young healer whispered.

Before we could continue the conversation, angry shouts and squeals of laughter came from further inside the cave. We found Myra and Katilia drenched with what I could only assume to be water and a cackling Iona trying to hide behind a rock.

“Lady Eleanor, look! “ my student called out as she gleefully conjured water. I was amused to note that both her sister and Katilia backed away as soon as Iona started the incantation.

“Excellent.”

Now I needed to look through my grimoire and find something else for her to study. Unfortunately, I had little time to look over my lower level spells. Why was Iona literally vibrating in place? Oh, right, my promise.

“Looks like you will get to hear the story too, Amice.” Leo chuckled at his niece's antics.

Ignoring the light laughter coming from Karin, I sighed, “After dinner.”

My soon to be apprentice’s excitement at the upcoming story had the side effect of further lifting the dark cloud that had hovered around Myra’s party. I thought it was a good thing, but it still left me in a bit of a quandary. How do I explain an in-game quest ignoring the fact that it bore an eerie resemblance to Princess Freia's tale?

For additional payment, I put Iona to work, helping me make dinner. The basilisk stew was gone, and I didn’t want to plunder the rest of my inventory, so we decided upon roasted gura.

“Do you…cook at…home my lady.“ Katilia’s eyes opened wide as she tasted the well-seasoned pork.

“Oh no, I’m not allowed in the kitchen,” I laughed.

Well, I am permitted to get snacks, make a sandwich, and the like. But to actually cook a meal? No. We will also not discuss the exploding egg incident. Other than I learned, it’s a pain in the ass to get eggs off the kitchen ceiling.

“Did your cousin teach you?”

“In a way, Iona, when I started adventuring, Contessa wasn’t interested in eating trail food. And since a tavern wasn’t always available, we needed to learn how to cook.”

Actually, she said no Princess would put up with vendor food. Although I learned the skill for the status buffs, I couldn’t disagree. The food you bought from the merchants in Magic-Life wasn’t very good.

“So you cooked for everyone in your band, my lady?” Myra asked. She, too, seemed to be enjoying the roasted gura.

“No, we were supposed to take turns.“ I sort of grumbled, “But I seemed always to be skipped.”

Even with our rotating schedule, my companions wouldn’t allow their Princess to cook. Jerks every one of them.

“Eventually, I managed to convince one of my healers to be in charge of our meals during the times we managed to all be together. I learned most of my recipes from her.”

In real-life, Agatha or Sandy was a culinary student. She also had the highest cooking skill in Magic-Life and worked with the developers on many of the recipes.

So what to do about my story? I decided to wing it.

“It began when my band and I were celebrating the defeat of the Green Hag, a fearsome creature whose very presence brought pestilence in the lands of Mercia.”

In Magic-Life, the monster was the final boss of the Kinkenadon dungeon. My guild spent a week running through it repeatedly before they finally fixed all of the bugs. It was a lousy design, poorly balanced, and the whole area around the dungeon was glitchy as hell, hence the pestilence.

“While sitting around a campfire, I drew Marwolaeth for the first time. As soon as it cleared the scabbard, a ghostly warrior appeared in front of me, introducing himself as Sir Artegall of Tremonton. He spoke of how he had been slain by a tyrant calling himself the Black Knight, who had besieged his family’s ancestral home in the hills of Brigliadore. Marwolaeth was his family’s blade.”

“Marwolaeth?” Amice asked.

Suddenly my spear vanished as my sword appeared on my lap startling those who had not seen me summon my weapons before.

Kathy was sure that the developers had gifted me the unique sword as a special thanks for the many late nights I spent working with them, trying to fix the issues with the dungeon. Although other Eldritch Knights received similar mount quests, none of them were tied to a sword called Marwolaeth.

“Lady Eleanor, how did your blade end up in Hag’s possession?” questioned Leo.

Running my hand over the scabbard, I shrugged, “I’m not sure. One of her lieutenants wielded it. Perhaps she was allied with the Black Knight.”

“Do all your weapons have names, my lady?” Iona asked, “I remembered you called your spear by one too.”

“Rhew and no, not all of my weapons have names.” With no more questions coming, I continued, “The knight begged me to rescue those held captive by the Black Knight and free his lands. So my companions and I headed off towards the hills of Brigliadore.”

Of course, my friends knew this was supposed to be a solo-quest. However, I had to travel a bit to get there, so they escorted me. I glossed over most of the journey. By then, we all had riding mounts, so we rode around most of the encounters.

“Everyone vanished?” Iona gasped.

I had been in the middle of explaining that we had come across a strange stone archway as we traveled down a long road. On the other side lay Sir Artegall’s ancestral lands. Dismounting, I passed under the arch, only to find that I had left my companions behind.

“No, I could still see them. But I was told only someone wielding Marwolaeth could pass under the archway. At that moment, Sir Artegall reappeared, ready to escort me to his castle.”

“Oh, like Princess Freia,” Iona clapped her hands together.

Not really, but I wasn’t going to argue with her.

“Who’s Princess Freia?” puzzled Amice.

“Oh, the Emperor’s grandmother,” Iona explained.

Katilia frowned, “I’m confused.”

“It’s another story. I’ll let Karin tell it,” I gave Iona’s aunt a smile, which caused her to chuckle.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Were you trapped, Lady Eleanora?” worried Amice.

Ah, considering what the group just went through, I wasn’t surprised at the question. I knew my friends lay on the other side of the Instance, and if I wanted to, I could have quit the quest at any time.

“I don’t think so. If I relinquished Marwolaeth, then I believe I could have returned to my companions.”

Iona protested, “But Sir Artegall’s family and retainers were being held captive.”

“True, so I continued.”

Everything around me lay dead or dying. The very ground seemed cursed, which confirmed to my listeners that the Green Hag had been an ally. Traveling through a diseased forest, I told of my encounters with a monstrous wolf, a guardian stone golem, and a giant horned snake. Upon exiting, the ruined remains of the home of Sir Artegall lay off in the distance.

Iona sniffed, “Oh, but there was no one to rescue.”

“There was, but it’s not what you think,” I explained.

Although it had been difficult so far, the quest was supposed to be a solo quest. Clearing out the bailey of a few skeletons took no time at all. My ghostly companion then told me I needed to enter the castle’s three towers and face their guardians before I could approach the Black Knight in the Great Hall.

After defeating the banshee and her wraith attendants in the eastern tower, the ghostly form of Sir Artegall's wife appeared next to her husband. At the top of the western tower, I faced a zombie ogre whose destruction released the shade of the castle’s chamberlain.

Inside the final tower, after fighting my way through a handful of lesser wights, I faced a barrow-wight. With its defeat, the ghost of Sir Artegall’s brother joined my spirit host.

“So with my ghostly companions supporting me, I entered the Great Hall to find a shadowknight, a corrupted spirit whose very presence was poisoning the land. He was mounted upon a steed made of shadows and charged as soon as I stepped into the hall.”

“And then what!” Iona exulted.

“Why I fought the foul creature with fire and steel.”

The hall did not give my foe a lot of maneuvering room, and I quickly dismounted him. In the end, we faced each other in the center of the hall.

Ok by now, I had gotten a little more involved than I intended with my storytelling, and although I wasn’t a bard, I think everyone was enjoying the tale.

“And with a final stroke, the shadowknight disappeared, its screams echoing through the hall.”

My audience was sitting forward as I explained that my ghostly companions started to fade but not before thanking me. Leaving the Great Hall, I found Sir Artegall mounted upon a familiar looking horse.

I tried to remember his last words.

“Brave Knight, thanks to you, I can finally rest in peace. Please continue to wield my family’s sword. I am content to know that I leave it in the hands of such a fearsome warrior.”

Dismounting, he handed me the horse’s reins. “And the spirits of these lands, who now sing with joy, wish to offer you a companion. Like my household, he had been shackled to the Black Knight and now wishes to offer you his service.”

He thanked me once again and vanished.

“And then?” Iona squealed.

“I mounted my horse, who I named Gwefrydd, and rejoined my companions.”

--0--

In the early morning hours, a troop of horsemen followed by an elegant coach traveled through the streets of Harmond. One of its occupants Baroness Sabena of House Donha, pushed aside the curtains and smiled, “It’s good to be home, Marsilia.”

“It is mother, although I am still surprised that you wanted to depart so early. And please don’t keep insisting that it’s because you don’t like parties. I am old enough to remember the Festivities of Solas you and father used to host.”

The older woman chuckled. “Yes, well, we were much younger then.”

“Mother.”

She waved her hand, dismissively, “Your right, of course. Just some unfortunate politics I have no desire to get involved with. Your cousin Geoffrey will keep us informed. He and his wife have always enjoyed the capital’s parties.”

“Well, I’m proud of how Byron acted this past week.” She looked down at the young boy whose head lay on her lap. “I know his father would be as well.”

“Sarian willing, you will be seeing him soon enough.”

Marsilia smiled; her husband, Sir Thomas Branmark, was a member of the diplomatic entourage sent to Peturia to be part of the ongoing trade negotiations with the Eagle Empire.

“It was also nice of you to chaperone Princess Adela and her betrothed. She and Prince Ethelred appeared to be well matched.”

“I think the word you’re looking for is besotted.”

Marsilia grinned, aware of the rumors. “Although I’m surprised Archmage Phexidis wasn’t there since she is his apprentice until after the wedding at least. In fact, I don’t remember seeing him at all.”

“I was informed by the Queen Mother that he had been summoned to the Shrine of Hashan on Dragon Tor. She didn’t know or wouldn’t say why.”

“That sounds rather ominous.”

The Baroness shrugged, “Perhaps, but his Majesty didn’t think it important enough to mention it to his nobles, nor did Princess Adela seem too concerned.”

When the noise outside the carriage suddenly changed, Marsilia knew they were approaching Donha Castle.

Turning to the young woman who sat quietly across from her, she said, “Catherine, please take Byron upstairs and put him to bed. He hasn’t slept well on the road. A little extra sleep will be good for him.”

“Yes, Lady Marsilia.”

Stepping out of the carriage, the group ignored the controlled chaos around them as the Baroness greeted her scheneshal or steward of her estate. “Good morning Sir Odo how fare you this morning?”

The older man bowed deeply at the waist. His silver shoulder-length hair revealed his age, but his bearing still screamed warrior. “Excellent, my lady. How was your trip?”

“Pleasant enough, oh, and please convey my thanks to Master Theodore for his recommendation in hiring the Captain of the Sylith.”

Matching his lady’s stride, the two entered the estate’s great hall, followed by men-at-arms maids and other retainers.

As he watched the twenty or so men and women move around him busy with their assigned tasks, he replied, “I will. Although truthfully, my lady, I was a bit concerned considering Captain Henry’s reputation.”

The Baroness gave a small chuckle. “Well, I’m sure he earned it. He has the eyes of a rascal, but he was the perfect gentleman. Oh, and Byron has told everyone he wants to be a sailor when he grows up.”

“A sailor,” Odo replied in amusement.

“Yes,” she grinned. “He spent most of his time on deck learning the trade from the crew. Of course, Marsilia doesn’t approve.”

“Mother,” she sighed, but there was a hint of a smile in her voice. “I am going to follow Catherine. I will meet you in the study.”

“That’s fine, daughter.”

Looking up, Baroness Sabena gave her scheneshal a nod then continued through the estate with a smaller group trailing behind her.

The study with its hardwood walls lined with books and filled with trophies of her husband’s time as a soldier along with a painting of him astride his old warhorse was different from what one would expect of a gentlewoman’s study. For the Baroness, she gained strength from this room, almost feeling his presence. She wouldn’t change it for the world.

Stationed behind a beautiful black pine desk, Baroness Sabena sorted through the pile of documents. In front of her, sitting in high backed chairs were her daughter and heir and her scheneshal.

Waiting for a servant to leave after setting down a silver tray along with a pitcher of refreshments, Odo reached into a leather satchel and added another two documents to the ever-growing pile.

The Baroness gave him a look before returning to her reading.

“Excuse me for my tardiness, my lady.” A young man in a blue arming coat bowed at the waist upon entering the room.

“Its perfectly fine, Sir Eric take a seat. I assume your lovely wife and child are doing well?” Sabena smiled, setting several papers to the side to sign later.

Taking a seat, he replied, “Yes, my lady. She sends her regards and a thank you for the beautiful blanket.”

“I look forward to seeing her and the new baby.“ The Baroness then picked up two documents, and her smile disappeared. “An interesting report from Captain Conrad in Wyndemere, wouldn’t you say, Sir Odo? So this Lady Eleanor of House Reine suddenly appeared on the Albanese Way by way of the Godstones?”

The other two people in the room looked shocked as her seneschal reached over and passed the report to the knight before acknowledging his Baroness. “Yes, my lady, although there is no way to confirm her story.”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing before.” Sir Eric looked up from the report, surprised.

“Neither had I,” Odo confirmed. “I sent a missive to Countess Orebella for her thoughts on the matter.”

“Then we will wait to see what she has to say. Now then Captain Conrad has also confirmed that her armor is silvered steel,” Sabena frowned. “So we have a foreign noble who happens to be an A-ranked adventurer wandering around inside my borders. Who also seems to have effortlessly ingratiated herself with one of my loyal captains.”

“What country?” questioned Lady Marsilia.

“Avalon,” Sir Eric answered before passing her the report. “Unless it’s a city, it doesn’t say either way.”

“Not a city or a country I am familiar with, “ Odo remarked. “ Although from her coloring, Captain Colin suggests Lady Eleanor’s lands might be as far north as Karlspang.”

“Long way frome home,” Lady Marsilia murmured then shook her head. “I can understand why he sought her assistance in determining the cause of increased monster activity but to place an unknown noblewoman in charge?”

“I know the captain well, my lady, and trust his judgment,” Sir Eric reassured, “Perhaps it’s because someone of her station might not be willing to follow the lead of the others in the band. Or that she would have more experience in determining the threat of this unknown labyrinth.”

“I agree with Sir Eric, “ Odo concurred.

“The other two, what do you know of them?” The Baroness asked.

Her scheneshal nodded, “They are former C-ranked adventurers that currently run a guild sanctioned school here in the city. Along with their youngest niece, they approached Lady Eleanor in the hope she would help them find a missing adventuring band led by another niece, a Myra of Harmon.”

The Baroness gave a thoughtful look as she studied the second document before passing it to her daughter, “What do you think of this livery badge?”

Taking the other piece of parchment, Marsilia studied the drawing of a dragon eating its tail with a sunburst in the center.

“It's not on our kingdom’s register, obviously.“ Biting her lip, she added, “Its interesting a warrior family who values glory but also the sanctity of life.”

Sir Eric looked at the document than said, “I have not seen such a device before my lady, but I will ask around.”

“Thank you, “ Baroness Sabena tapped her lip with her finger. “ Increased monster activity on the Albanese Way is very troubling, especially this time of year. Sir Eric, I would like you to support Captain Conrad. Send whatever additional troops he might need. Odo?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“I would like to speak to Guildmaster Stephen today. For him not to have reported any of this is unacceptable.”

--0—

Glossary –

Instance- is an environment where the structure is the same for all parties who enter you will never encounter another party while yours is playing through the area, and thus it is a specific instance of this area or mission. Instances usually have much better rewards than the normal overworld map in an MMORPG.

MOB difficulty – a quest or mob's difficulty color is sometimes referred to as its "con.” This is a holdover from text-based games where the standard command to determine difficulty was /con or /consider. Many games have simplified the process by displaying the appropriate color on a hostile mob's portrait's level number when you target it.

Speedrun - is a play-through or a recording thereof of a whole video game or a selected part of it (such as a single level) performed with the intention of completing it as fast as possible.