“I sensed when she left, but there was also a subtle change in you. I had to be careful. If it had been a curse and I didn’t purge it now, you would have been doomed.” Then, after a moment of hesitation, Samvek added, "I hadn't expected you to gain a new ability from this."

  His words caught me off guard, a reminder that the ordeal had not been without its rewards. Spirit Singing, an ability that felt both alien and intriguing. The very definition of the ability raised questions about the nature of the universe for me, but I pushed that aside for now. "Neither did I," I admitted, the implications of this new skill slowly dawning on me. "But it seems like it could be... useful." Then I read the description to him.

  I celebrated when he arched an eyebrow. It wasn’t much, but it was an indicator that I’d managed to surprise him. It was oddly reassuring to realize that Samvek, for all his power, knowledge, and connections didn’t know everything.

  Samvek's gaze on me was thoughtful now, contemplative. "Indeed," he mused. "The ability to influence spiritual energy, to soothe and guide it... It's a rare gift, one that could prove invaluable for completing this dungeon. It’s already growing beyond my expectations.”

  His approval warmed me, a balm to the soul after the rigors of the night. Yet, his words also served as a spur, urging me on. I still had nearly three months based upon the time dilation, but if the dungeon grew too powerful, I’d never be able to finish it.

  My fears took a backseat though as I admired the amount of XP I’d gained from defeating this encounter. It was enough to push me up not just one but two full levels and near to a third. I felt restored by the level gain a way that even a night of sleep couldn’t match up to.

  I quickly assigned my free stats, putting twelve of them into Agility and six into Charisma. I had a feeling that spirit singing might work better with a high charisma and my Strength had grown so much that if I didn’t put points into Agility, I’d soon be left behind.

  There were a few other gains as I checked out my status. Mage Shield had grown to Common and now would consume .8 Mana for every 1 HP of damage absorbed. I could also now extend my shield to cover up to one other person.

  Mage Missiles- This Mind based attack will deal moderate damage to a up to one target per missile with a total Durability equal to your Mind stat. The missiles now have an increased chance to affect incorporeal beings. A stat differential will increase or decrease damage. Maximum number of missiles is now 5 each possessing 40% of the power of the singular missile form. Duration: Instantaneous. Cool-Down: 10 seconds. Cost: 5 Stamina per use. (Common 11%)

  That seemed like a far better upgrade than Mage Shield, but who was I to complain about any of it?

  I also got a couple of skill upgrades.

  Blunt Weapons: 114/94

  Staff Combat: 117/97

  Defensive Fighting: 18

  Slashing Weapons: 61

  Polearms: 97/77

  Aerial Combat: 25

  Apparently struggling to use a weapon which wasn’t doing much damage pushed my understanding of the weapon on many fronts. Although, the biggest jumps were for Defensive Fighting and Aerial Combat. Since I’d been running away, or rather flying away most of the time, it wasn’t really a surprise to me.

  Once I’d gone through all of my changes, I asked Samvek, “What now?”

  “I’m surprised you have to ask. Look around.”

  I saw the book lying on the ground. I went to pick it up, but Samvek said, “Just put that in storage for now. You aren’t ready for it yet, and I still believe you will benefit from discovering some things on your own.”

  Rather than argue, I slipped it into my spatial storage. I absently wondered what would happen if I left it there long enough. Would it improve in quality? I guess it was already epic, so probably not, but maybe I’d get an upgrade to my Save for Winter Ability later.

  I looked around and next my eyes settled on the dagger. It was no longer protected by a shield, but I was somewhat hesitant to touch it. What if that triggered another event? Then I slowed my thoughts. First it seemed that the paired items were all taken so, it was likely that there was only one event per paired items and maybe there wouldn’t be any more now that the banshee was gone.

  Then there was the other thought which calmed me the most. So what if there was another event? I was here to gain experience, so it would probably only be a boon. Another round of fighting that many reavers would likely push staff fighting up to level 100 and earn me a class shard from Samvek.

  The final thought was that the banshee had left no loot, so I was probably meant to benefit from the dagger and the book. I walked over and focused on Identifying it.

  The Means Beyond Life Dagger (Epic)

  Wt: 1.5 lbs

  This weapon will temporarily drain the Strength and Agility of the target. 1-2% will be drained upon an unresisted attack. Stolen stat points last for fifteen minutes. All wounds inflicted with this weapon cause extra damage and will often result in the bleeding status condition, which can only be cured with healing or proper medical care.

  Dexterity: +20, Agility: +10

  It wasn’t exactly the type of weapon that I would be typically using, but at the same time I didn’t really want to give it up. That power was useful and because it was a percentage based drain, it would only increase in value against stronger foes. I put it into my spatial storage. Who knew if I might find a use for it with my next build.

  Then I started to look back at Samvek, but as I did, I noticed something I hadn’t been expecting. The fog in the room was cleared and the lights overhead shone brighter, so I could see that the gate on the far end was still closed. That caused me to turn and look at the gate we had entered through. It was open.

  I moved around and looked for any other clues, but after half an hour; I hadn’t found anything. There was no hidden latch or secret machine that would open the gate. In frustration, I kicked the now open sarcophagus. To my shock, it slid a good two inches. I looked down and saw in that small crack, a dim light coming up from under the banshee’s former resting place.

  I looked up and grinned at Samvek as though to tell him what I’d just found.

  He only shook his head and said, “Took you long enough.”

  Chapter 26- Into the Lab

  Earth Countdown: 387 days, 7 hours, 54 minutes.

  Time on Darje Mission: 96 days, 9 hours, 21 minutes.

  I pushed the sarcophagus further over and found a staircase headed down. There was dim light coming from below, but because the staircase was built with Darje in mind, it was anything but cramped for me.

  “So you knew this was here all along?”

  Samvek shook his head. “No. I couldn’t sense it until after you defeated the banshee. You did fine and you’ve gained more than I expected in this plot. It confirms that it was the right decision to split you up from the team. A team will be important to you and I’ll admit that those three aren’t half bad. But right now you need to push your growth and that won’t happen with a team.”

  I considered what he said. I wasn’t entirely convinced, but it couldn’t hurt to push myself in the next zone. Before I headed down the stairs, though, I checked on the status of the mission. I had a gut feeling about something.

  Slaughter Mission: Cleanse the Darje Graveyard before outbreak can occur. This mission is recommended for a full party split between common and uncommon grades. (2250 world points)

  Outer plots cleared: 24/24

  Inner plots cleared: 3/6

  Core plot cleared: 0/1

  Optional Secondary Objective: ???

  I smiled. I was right. I had cleared the plot, that was unless the others had done three plots, but no. The far gate was just to mislead us. The actual way out of this plot was down these stairs. I needed to keep moving, though; I didn’t want the rest of my team to have to clear four plots to my two.

  There was one other oddity, though. The world point value of the mission had gone up. I could only assume that had to do with the monsters becoming stronger. Oh well, nothing for it but to keep going. I glanced at Urg and he slid down the stairs without me even having to direct him.

  When I didn’t sense anything dangerous from him, I followed behind, with my Mage Shield active again.

  The stairs were made of well-fitted stone and showed signs of significant wear, but also the growth of lichen to indicate just how long they had been left unattended. When I reached the bottom, my eyes grew wide. This wasn’t what I’d been expecting.

  The air in the chamber was thick with the scent of sulfur and decay. After getting a face full of that pungent scent, I could only wonder at what sort of experiments had been taking place here. The fact that the scent lingered, made me wonder if perhaps it has been used more recently than I anticipated.

  Floating above, there were orbs of magical light. A few of them flickered like a bulb on its last leg, but overall there was more light here than there had been above. It showed me that this chamber was every bit as large as the plot I’d just finished clearing.

  Directly ahead, a section cordoned off with scorched stone markers immediately caught my attention. Within its boundaries, the remnants of fire and ash suggested experiments with fire elementals. Charred tables held twisted metal instruments, their purposes unknown but undoubtedly sinister. Glass containers, some cracked and others completely shattered, littered the area, hinting at containment attempts gone awry. The air here was warmer, the residual magic of the fire elementals still lingering like a haunting presence.

  I hummed the tune to ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire.’ For whatever reason, it was the first song that came to mind. As I did, I focused on reaching out with my new ability. I soon was softly singing the first few lines of the song. My dad used to play that song all the time, so I’d heard it all my life and it seemed oddly appropriate.

  The mana around me responded. There was a poof from the ash as I directed my song towards it. The faintest lingering flame lit up. It was small and feeble, threatening to go out at any moment. This wasn’t any type of sapient life; it was simply the raw intent of fire.

  Burn, consume, warmth, light… on and on, I could feel more than hear the intent of fire.

  All of those concepts came through as I sensed the fire trying to pull back from my song. It wasn’t fear, as there was no mind. It seemed more like a natural resistance to an unnatural use. Like connecting dots, or perhaps insights, I got the feeling of a smolder. It was a twisting of fire, meshed with undeath to create something which was never meant to be.

  Fire didn’t like it, but couldn’t resist.

  As soon as I let my song drop, the tiny flame began to fade. After half a dozen seconds, it was gone. Then a thought hit me. I sang again, but tried to infuse the idea of completion. The fire had consumed everything there was in that test chamber. It no longer needed to exist. And just like that, the fire dropped off, but with no struggle this time. It was like a release. The potential for spiritual energy seemed almost infinite although it clearly had limited interactions with the physical world. I began to wonder if my imagination might not become super important.

  I shook my head and looked at Samvek, “Is there so much meaning in everything?”

  He shrugged. “There is as much meaning as you are willing to see. Energy in all its forms has purpose. Purpose lends meaning. Conflict occurs when purpose conflicts. Think of fire and water. Their purposes are in opposition and when they meet one prevails, and the other is extinguished, but even in that collision, something new is created in the form of steam.”

  Then he laughed, mostly to himself. “You’ve got me sounding like my father all of a sudden. These thoughts are the province of the sects. We strive for functional use of all resources. It’s good that you’ve become aware of more layers than meet the eye, but don’t let it distract you from your mission.”

  I nodded before looking at the next enclosure. To the right, a contrasting section marked off for earth elementals presented a starkly different scene. Huge chunks of rock, some half-carved into grotesque shapes, dominated the space. The floor was a mosaic of earth and stone, with deep gouges suggesting violent attempts at escape. Among the debris, I spotted broken tools made of a material that shimmered with a faint magical glow, likely used to manipulate the elemental earth. The stillness of this area was oppressive, as if the very stone itself held its breath.

  I tried to sense anything from the stone and earth, but nothing came through. So, I began to sing again, just letting go with the first thing that came to mind. It didn’t really make any sense, and the song wasn’t really about stone or earth, but the title said it and so I let the words flow out. “The night is my companion…”

  Once again, there was movement. This time an incomplete golem began to stand. I was amused by the fact that it had four legs and two arms, or rather it had parts of all those. It was made by a Darje, so why wouldn’t their golems be shaped in their image rather than that of a human. As I sang, I began to feel the energy inherent in stone.

  Strong, endure, crush, solid…

  It was as different to me as the fire was, but I could still sense the meaning in it. This time though there was more to work with. I thought it might behoove me to experiment a bit. A quick glance at Samvek indicated he wasn’t in any rush. So I began to sing the second verse. My voice might be awful, but there was magic in what I sang.

  The stone began to move. I pushed the intent at it that it should repair itself. There were cracks all over its body. Some of its limbs ended before they ought to have. Half the head was missing, although it clearly wasn’t necessary.

  I began shaping the stone. At first, I thought to turn it to a humanoid golem. That was what felt more natural to me, but I quickly realized, there were limits on how far I could coax the stone. Unlike fire, which was quick to respond and wanted nothing more than transition, the earth and especially the solid stone resisted change. The best I could do was get the golem to absorb a bit of the loose earth to patch its cracks.

  It wasn’t much, but it was an ability I hadn’t possessed until an hour ago. This was definitely an ability I’d have to work on. A great deal of practice was going to be necessary. When I released the song, the golem slumped back down. It didn’t have enough magic in it to keep going when I wasn’t coaxing that power out. My mind raced about the possibility of creating golems. I wondered if they’d take my XP if I used them or would I be able to bring them through the portal with me? Somehow, the idea of creating something felt better than summoning an already existing being.

  Further in, an area dedicated to the undead revealed the darkest aspects of the lab. Cages, many broken open, were scattered about, their bars twisted and bent. Within these confines, the remains of various creatures lay in unsettling poses, a testament to the cruel experiments they had endured. I quickly noted that it was more than just Darje. The remains were too decayed for me to say, but I wondered if some were animals which had been native to this world, or if they were the remains of previous adventurers who had come to this dungeon.

  Tables cluttered with alchemical ingredients, spell books open to pages of necromantic rituals, and strange, arcane devices suggested a deep delve into the manipulation of life and death. The air here was coldest, a chill that seeped into my bones, whispering of the desecration that had occurred.

  Beyond these specific experiment zones, the trappings of a mad wizard's laboratory were everywhere. Shelves lined with jars of unidentifiable substances, their contents floating in murky liquids, covered the walls. Strange symbols were etched into the stone, glowing faintly with residual magic. Workbenches cluttered with papers, quills, and ink pots suggested frantic research, the scrawled notes a window into a mind obsessed with power and forbidden knowledge.

  In the center of the lab, a large, open area held a circle of stones, their arrangement deliberate and precise. The center of the circle was scorched, evidence of some powerful magical event. This, I surmised, was where the wizard had conducted his most significant experiments, perhaps even attempting to summon or create something beyond his control.

  As I moved through the lab, the sense of desolation grew. It was clear that many of the experiments had failed, their subjects now nothing more than remains. But the broken enclosures and empty spaces also hinted at successes—creatures that had escaped or been released. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. What kind of monstrosities had been unleashed from this place? Maybe the larger question was what had this wizard learned? What had he created? Earth, fire, undeath, they didn’t seem to have much in common, yet the smolders were proof that a combination was possible.

  Everywhere I looked, the signs of madness were evident. This was not the domain of a scholar seeking knowledge, but a madman obsessed with bending the natural world to his will. The sheer variety of experiments spoke of a mind unhinged, a wizard who had crossed the line from genius to insanity. Books were torn and piles of trash were scattered around the lab, much of it already showing signs of decomposing.

  What I didn’t sense, despite moving around very carefully, was that I hadn’t discovered any traps, magical or otherwise. “Are there traps that I’m missing?”

  Samvek seemed to consider my question for a moment. I wasn’t certain he was going to answer, but then he replied, “Not that I can sense.”

  So nothing that a peak rare class user could detect. That would have to be good enough. I moved to the one area of the lab which still seemed to be fully intact. There was a desk that had a thick coating of dust on it. Stacks of paper and a number of tomes. My eyes lit up when I saw them because Identify was telling me that three of them were spell manuals designed to impart a spell to whoever used it and one was an ability book.

  My excitement faded as I read the descriptions of the three spells.

  Spiritual Torment was a torture spell specifically designed to break the purpose of non-sapient spiritual energy. It made me uncomfortable just touching the book. The second, Forcible Soul Transfer, was designed to force the soul of a sapient being into a constructed vessel. It made sense why whoever owned this lab would have a spell like that, but it wasn’t one I was comfortable with either.